Traveling Exhibition

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Sustainable lifestyle

Most of the synthetic fibers that are necessary in our lives are made from oil. However, there are many with oil that which need to be solved such as the limitations on the finite petroleum supply, the greenhouse effect, and environmental pollution.

Symbol exhibit: Fibers derived from microorganisms
As a carbon source, certain microorganisms accumulate internally sugars and plant oil as polyesters. This polyester is thermal plastic and can be processed into fiber. It can be degraded with microorganism enzymes after use and is totally biodegradable and recyclable.

Hands-on exhibit
In order to solve the critical problem of water shortage that affects the world, the reverse osmosis membrane filter plays an important role as it changes sea water into freshwater.

Artifacts
Chemical recycling is a renewing process, that makes it possible to recycle discarded products over and over by converting the used product into usable raw material.

Biomimicry

Biomimicry is a field that replicates on a molecular level new materials and technology by applying what was learned from the marvels of nature found through the amazing functions of a particular organism. Most of the standout products of synthetic fiber research, such as nylon (an attempt to replicate silk) and polyester (an attempt to replicate cotton) are milestones in the history of biomimicry.

Symbol exhibit: Fibers that shines like the Morpho Butterfly
Morpho butterflies, native to Latin America, are especially beautiful butterflies with shimmering metallic blue wings. From the desire to create fiber that shines and has spectacular color like this Morpho Butterfly, fiber was developed that shows its color not by pigment but by its inner structure. This achievement was made possible by employing nanotechnology in its development.

Hands-on exhibit
It is a type of fiber which repels water since it is woven by artificially mimicking the structure of a "lotus leaf."

Artifacts
A technology that makes it possible to adhere anywhere without the use of an adhesive comes from the concept of the structure of a gecko's sole and a MORPHOTEX(R) product.

Extreme Environments

Another type of fiber, that is remarkably strong and unlikely to deform, is called the super fiber. It is a fiber with over 10 times the strength of fiber used for clothing. These are the most powerful fibers: imagine being able to suspend one automobile (approximately 700 kg) by a fiber with a thickness of 1 mm. These innovative fibers are actively used in various extreme environments ranging from disaster prevention, to sports and to space development.

Symbol exhibit: Spider Silk
A silk made spider is the strongest of all. "Spider Silk" is made by silkworms which have been implanted the spider genes. It is two to three times stronger and more elastic than the regular silk.

Hands-on exhibit
It is a fiber stronger than steel and cannot be cut by ordinary scissors.

Artifacts
Firefighters' uniform and Athletic artificial limbs

Nanotechnology

Today the thinnest fiber created is 1/12,000 of the thickness of a human hair. Labs have created fibers with a thickness of 3 nanometers in diameter that can reach the moon that weight only 0.15 g, and are referred to as nano-fibers. One nanometer is 0.000001 mm, and a nano-fiber can be definitely referred to as a fiber of almost inconceivable thinness.

Symbol exhibit: Carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an amazing material that is a fifth of the wait of steel but has five times the strength, can have an electrical current density of more than 1,000 times greater than copper wire, and the thermal conductivity to that of diamonds!

Hands-on exhibit
Metal mold used to create microfibers

Artifacts
Extremely thick Monofilament fibers opposed to thin fibers and Microfiber products

Comfort and Function

Development is underway of fibers, that provide comfort through various seasonal endeavors, such as winter outdoor activities, office work in the warmest months, and can accompany societal changes in lifestyles. Plus, sportswear using functional fibers developed for record breaking performance has become the topic of conversation in at Olympic games.

Symbol exhibit: A laboratory that measures the level of comfort
At the fiber companies, "Comfort Evaluation & Design Group", mannequins able to simulate the human perspiration process activated by the warmth of clothes, are used for the development of comfortable materials. This mannequin copies the perspiration process and can quantify the indefinite sensations of humidity, coolness and warmth. It is covered with imitation skin having 168 sweat glands throughout its "body".

Hands-on exhibit
Functional cloth which makes you feel warm or cools

Artifacts
These are products relative to Warm Biz/Cool Biz fashion, sportswear, and shoes of Olympic Athletes, etc.

Demonstrations(Some easy experiment programs that performer could conduct. )

You can experience the amazing properties of certain fibers in a demonstration style by using test samples of these advanced fibers that capture various functions such as those which greatly absorb oil, those that have the ability to dry quickly, and those that generate heat when they absorb moisture.

Samples and equipments included

Fiber that greatly absorbs oil

Breath Thermo(R) (Heat producing material caused by absorbing moisture)

Video set

Topics on the cutting edge of innovative fibers, with images.

Conditions encountered by running with an artificial limb
Running condition with the athletic artificial limb: Introduction of the characteristics, etc., of the artificial limb.