An anti-coronavirus fabric to make uniforms for maids, chefs, waiters and cleaners. This is the proposal for an Italian company to allow operators in the hospitality sector to work more safely, protecting yourself from virus transmission.
The new antibacterial and antiviral fabric is called Virkill, and was created by Italtex, a traditional company that manufactures silk fabrics for women's clothing.
Anti-virus fabric: the market
This is not the first time that products of this type have been presented on the market. The pandemic, in fact, forced many companies to rethink their production parameters. And it paved the way for new technologies that, even in the textile area, can represent an aid to Covid-19 prevention.
Not surprisingly, the market for antimicrobial and antiviral fabrics is promising.
Global Market Insights, a North American consulting company, estimates growth of 10,48 billion dollars in 2019 for 20,5 billion in 2026.
And the Italian textile industry, which has always been one of the European and international leaders in the sector, is certainly not just looking at this growth.
Coronavirus antivirus fabric: the precedents
Another completely Italian example, presented recently, was the one developed by Anemotech, who created “The Breath”, a technological fabric with antibacterial and antiviral functions. But there is also fiorentina Texe, or technology AvirTex proposed by the company Argar, from Varese.
Well-known names have also entered the boom in antiviral fabrics, such as luggage manufacturer Padovana Roncato, who put on the masks ViralOff on the market.
And in Diesel, which created a capsule collection in antimicrobial fabrics.
How Virkill works
Virkill's properties are guaranteed by copper nanoparticles “fused” into the thread, a feature that distinguishes the fabric from a simple antiviral surface treatment that can deteriorate with washing.
As copper nanoparticles showed long-lasting antibacterial activity and recently proved to be effective even against fungi and viruses.
Effectiveness certifications
In fact, a series of laboratory tests carried out and certified – according to international standards – demonstrate a certain antibacterial and antiviral effectiveness of the fabric.
According to the newspaper Corriere della Sera, the fabric obtained certification from International Standards Organization ISO 18184: 2019, which recognizes the antiviral activity of textile products specifically against Covid-19 (Sars-CoV-2 virus) with excellent results.
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