Three companies collaborated for innovative textile solutions and achieved a successful technical solution. German carpet manufacturer Anker, Devan Chemicals, which develops flame retardant solutions, and Denmark-based cleantech company Shark Solutions, have collaborated to offer a sustainable and flame retardant carpet to the aviation industry. Anker received support from Shark Solutions for PVB-based binder in this process.
Inspired by the knowledge and needs of the aviation market, Anker acted to achieve this new goal with its partners. Anker, the first company to produce carpets with a flame retardant feature using a recycled binder for aviation, found this binder, PVB, in Shark Solution.
Shark’s PVB reuses laminated glass, from windshields and architectural/building glass, that otherwise would go to landfill. The non-toxic binder (no chlorine or phthalates) is fully recyclable and thus lives up to the future standards of the industry.
Same features as traditional carpets and more sustainable
Aviation carpet with PVB as a binder has the same properties as those of traditional non-sustainable carpets. The market has been looking for such solutions for a long time and market entry has already begun. Anker will present well-known and specially developed aviation carpet styles by producing them with PVB. The firm also plans to step out the unsustainable traditional aviation carpets from the market as soon as possible.
Textile innovator Devan Chemicals, known for its tailor-made flame retardant solutions, was called in to develop the flame retardant back coating, which is compliant with the Airbus and Boeing safety standards. Dirk Vanpachtenbeke, R&D manager Flame Retardants at Devan, said; “Based on many years of experience and competences in customer related developments; improving recycling rates is getting more and more important. We are very proud that, together with Anker and Shark Solutions, we can contribute to this rising demand for products that meet the standards of a circular economy solution”.
Anker and Devan expand their cooperation
In other news, Anker and Devan are already working on a new project, which includes Devan’s antimicrobial/viral-reducing technology. Recently, Devan published test results on the activity of their technology (BI-OME®) against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. According to independent testing, BI-OME is proven to achieve 99% and higher virus reduction; including of SARS-COV-2, on samples before washing and retains 98.5% even after 25 wash cycles. This technology has been recognized with the 2020 European Technology Innovation Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan.