Seoul, South Korea, Apr. 8--Hyosung Corp. has developed a carpet using Poly Trimethylene Terephthalate (PTT).
Hyosung on Thursday introduced its new carpet products, named Ion Free, at the Millennium Seoul Hilton in central Seoul. It also unveiled the new brand identity of its carpet brand Swan Carpet.
"The strength of Swan Carpet's Ion Free is that PTT polymer, the aromatic chemical fiber used for producing the carpet, doesn't contain negatively charged ions, the source to chemical synthesis that produce permanent spots and stains on carpets," said Park Young-cho, Hyosung CEO in charge of interior performance unit.
He added that since PTT polymer provides low water absorption, Ion Free carpet is virtually germ-free. It is difficult for germs to survive in a low moisture environment, he said. The carpet also has low electrostatic generation therefore can be used in research labs or high-tech semiconductor fabs that require static electricity-free environments.
The chemical fiber maker developed the PTT carpet manufacturing technology together with Soongsil University. Hyosung injected 1.3 billion won, or some $1.08 million, into developing the technology over the past three years. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy put another 1.3 billion won into the project.
Hyosung, the world`s second largest spandex manufacturer after U.S. chemical giant DuPont, hopes its Ion Free will compete with high end carpet imports. Hyosung's Swan Carpet controls 42 percent of the local carpet market estimated at 100 billion won, imported carpets excluded.
PTT combines the best properties of nylon and polyester. Compared with other synthetic fibers like nylon and acrylic, PTT fibers feel softer like wool, dye easier, retain rich vibrant colors longer, stretch and recover better. More importantly, PTT fibers inherently resist staining, clean easily, dry quickly and have lasting durability for longer use.
There are also benefits for textile manufacturers since the PTT fibers dye well at low temperatures without specialty chemicals, blend well with other fibers and much easier to work with than spandex.
These are why PTT is known as fiber of the future in the textiles industry.
PTT was first patented in 1941, but it was not until the 1990s, when Shell Chemicals developed a low-cost method of producing high-quality raw material for PTT that enabled commercial production of PTT polymers. Shell supplies raw materials for Hyosung's PTT carpet products.
