Sigma Technologies Int'l Inc.

Basic materials such as synthetic and and natural resins, and fibers have not changed much over the last 20-30 years. Most fabrics still utilize nylon, polypropylene, polyester, cotton and wool fibers and the bulk of polymer films is still based on polypropylene, polyester and polyethylene. Value added properties such as chemical resistance, anti-stain (or low surface energy), release, hydrophilicity, vapor and gas barrier, electrical conductivity, and abrasion resistance may be added to fabrics, films and papers, by altering the material surface without affecting its overall physical and mechanical properties.

TREATED AND COATED FABRICS

Sigma has developed two different technologies and production equipment for treating and coating fabrics.

Atmospheric plasma treatment which is used to treat and graft the fabric surface (see also Atmospheric Plasma treatment section), and the
DryFab^TM nanolayer polymer coating process, (see also Radiation Cured Polymers and Turn Key Equipment)

Plasma Treatment

–Activation and cleaning: This improves fabric dye uptake, adhesion and printing quality

–Plasma grafting: Used to create hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces

–Surface microroughness: Change “Feel” properties and produce an anti-pilling effect on Wool

–Shrinking and Heat Setting: Desirable Effect for Select Fabrics

DryFab^TM - Functionalized Fabrics

Current commercial fabric treatment/coating technologies, utilize solvent/water based processes.

DryFab^TM is an environmentally friendly 100% solids “Dry Coating” process:

•No solvents which require Recovery
•No hazardous waste for disposal
•No primers, surfactants and adhesion promoters

nnThe process takes place in a vacuum environment - ideal for containment of monomers during the deposition process

nMonomers are deposited as a vapor that conformally coats the fibers – do not change porosity or breathability

–

UNIQUE DUAL FUNCTIONALITY

Conventional wet processes that are used to functionalize fabrics, impart the same properties on both sides of the material. For example an anti-stain coating is water and oil repelling. An apparel in contact with the body with an anti-stain coating will feel very uncomfortable due to its inability to absorb moisture.

The DryFab^TMprocess can produce different functionalities on each side of a single fabric layer. For example an absorbing cotton fabric can be made anti-stain only on the outside surface, allowing the cotton against the body to absorb moisture.

DryFab^TM FUNCTIONALIZES FABRICS WITHOUT AFFECTING THEIR BREATHABILITY

For most applications, functionality must be added to fabrics without affecting porosity and breathability. The vapor based vacuum coating process has the ability to conformally coat individual fabric fibers (even micro-fibers) without beaching contact points and blocking the fabric

• DryFab^TM Coated Fabric Uncoated Fabric

•

Nanolayer Coated Fibers Do Not Block Fabric Pores

ADDITIONAL FABRIC FUNCTIONALITY USING THE DryFab^TM NANOLAYER PROCESS

nAntibacterial / Antimicrobial

n

nChemical Resistant

n

nFlame Retardant

nChemical Sensing - Color Change

nMetal Chelating

nAntistatic

n

nConductive