SYNTECH FABRICS BY LBD 

From Basalt to High-Tech Fabrics: LBD Group’s Syntropy Innovation

Innovative technologies and basalt fiber products are intended to replace all traditional materials soon, including steel, glass fibers, wood, plastic and many more.

BASALT FIBER PRODUCTS ARE INAUGURATING A NEW ERA.

Basalt fibers are thin filaments made up of volcanic rock, consisting mainly of plagioclase, pyroxenes and olives. Belonging to the category of mineral fibres as well as carbon and glass fibres, basalt fibres have superior mechanical and physical properties than the latter and a considerably lower cost than the former.

Typically characterized by a diameter between 9 and 13 μm, they represent an excellent ecological and safe alternative to asbestos, since their size vastly exceeds the breathability threshold, set at about 5 μm. In addition to guaranteeing high performance as thermal and acoustic insulators, they maintain their mechanical properties unchanged even in the presence of high temperatures and have an extraordinary chemical stability, both in acid and alkaline environments.

Thanks to the Megatron Pulse LBD technologies, basalt clustered powders can be mixed in synchropy, creating innovative and previously unimaginable materials.

Main fields of application:

Fire-resistant fabrics for the aerospace and automotive sectors.
Thermal and acoustic insulation for composite materials in construction.
Filters resistant to high temperatures and aggressive chemical agents (acids and alkalis).
Eco-friendly fibers as asbestos substitutes.
High-performance reinforcement materials for composites, used, for example, in sports equipment (tennis rackets, skis).

Unlike carbon and aramid fibers, which have a crystalline structure, basalt fibers are amorphous in nature. Their exceptional mechanical properties, when compared to those of the original rock, depend exclusively on their micrometric dimension, in accordance with the theory of the fragile fracture formulated by Griffith.

In the field of intelligent fabrics, a new frontier takes shape thanks to an innovative syntropic textile fiber, made by inserting hundreds of digital silicon microscale chips inside a polymeric “preform”. Through extremely precise control of the polymer flow, the researchers were able to generate a filament equipped with a continuous electrical connection between the chips, extended for tens of meters. Thin and incredibly flexible, this fiber can even be tucked into a needle, sewn directly onto the fabrics and subjected to thousands of washes without suffering any damage.

Thanks to LBD’s innovative Megatron Pulse Tech technology, it is now possible to create a digital textile fiber that overcomes the main critical issues related to nanotechnology and smart fabrics, ensuring in particular the punctual control of individual elements along the entire fabric. As the research team explains, fiber architecture can be imagined as a corridor where each element represents a room with its own unique digital number. To this end, LBD researchers have developed a digital addressing system that allows the functionality of a single component to be activated independently of the others.

These new generation fabrics employ fibers equipped with micropores 20,000 times the size of a drop of water, while being thin, water-repellent, self-cleaning, antibacterial, thermal insulating, anti-static, fireproof and resistant to repeated washing. These properties make them ideal for use in the sports sector, in professional security and in the military.

Thanks to the innovative technology of Megatron Pulse Tech, today’s smart fabrics are able to illuminate, vary tones, collect energy, modulate body temperature and offer protection in hostile environments. You can also customize its elasticity, texture, thickness, wear resistance and technological properties.

Furthermore, through the use of LBD technology, digital textile fibers gain the ability to collect, store, analyze, and process data. Integrated into everyday clothing or combined with other advanced solutions, they enable the creation of tailored materials, including through 3D printing.

There are adaptive fabrics capable of lowering body temperature in hot climates and providing insulation against the cold when needed; smart materials able to monitor muscle contractions and offer protection against extreme environmental hazards, such as radiation and the stresses of space travel. Additionally, there are medical fabrics for controlled drug release, alongside fibers enriched with moisturizing properties, fragrances, and anti-aging treatments.

The most significant area of ​​application remains the medical field. Thanks to these digital fibers, garments will be able to detect and monitor vital signs such as body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, paving the way for the future early diagnosis of various medical conditions.

The use of nanoparticles, nanocomposites, nanocapsules, nanospheres, and nanostructures in the textile industry allows traditional fabrics to acquire specific functionalities—such as antibacterial properties, water repellency, dirt resistance, antistatic capabilities, flame retardancy, mechanical strength, and protection against UV rays, chemicals, and heat.
Friction, pH variations, and biodegradation are just a few of the factors that “release” the agents contained within the fabric, rendering it antibacterial, self-cleaning, or even scented.

There are also quick-drying smart fabrics and therapeutic materials capable of monitoring the wearer’s vital signs. Additionally, there are hypoallergenic fabrics and anti-stress solutions featuring metallic filaments designed to block electromagnetic waves and protect against electrosmog. The range is rounded out by thermoregulating fabrics; photosensitive materials that change color based on ambient light; UV-protective fibers; and thermoplastic materials that allow the garment’s shape to be altered, creating folds, pleats, and gathers. There are even high-tech fabrics that—thanks to nanowires and mini-batteries—allow a garment to be transformed at the flip of a switch to suit any occasion. Textile technology goes even further: color-changing shoes; heated jackets controllable via smartphone or capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions; radiation-shielding aprons for medical staff; garments with heart-rate sensors; high-visibility jackets for nighttime use; and clothing integrated with portable charging systems for mobile devices.

While design remains a cornerstone of all these projects, in some instances, high-tech fabric has been used primarily to create life-saving workwear capable of assisting the wearer in dangerous situations, or to combat environmental hazards such as fine particulate matter, smog, and industrial emissions.