Concept

Lotus leaf is the best example of self cleaningsurfaces.

Well-known for their ability to self-clean byrepelling water and dirt.

Interesting to explore? Why the leaf is clean

No contamination and bacteria despite its dwelling indirty ponds.

Concept (cont’d)

Lotus leaf has below structures micro-scale bumps

nano-scale hair-like structures

waxy chemical surface

Formed Self cleaning textile - the textile surface which says

„No‟ to stains

1) Rain Repellent Coatings

- Fighter-jet canopy coating for pilot‟s visions

2) Self-Cleaning Textiles (Uniforms)

- Army Combat Uniforms (ACU) coated with

Luna‟s oil and water repellent technology

There are many several other patents under review for sensors and

nanotechnology Luna has filed.

Technology Overview

The Micropattern

Smaller than a human hair and invisible to

the naked eye, the Sharklet micropattern

mimics sharkskin to create surfaces

inhospitable for bacteria.

Discovery

Why do whales have algae-covered

bodies while sharks do not.

Further study proved shark‟s skin does not

allow micro-organisms from settling.

-Holds key patents related to using

micro-topography to control bio-adhesion.

- Six different patents from the US Patent

Office relating to uses of the micro-pattern,

different pattern dimensions, and various

medical device applications.

- Several patent applications in

progress for new technology as well as

novel manufacturing processes for

fabricating the Sharklet micro-pattern

1) Surface-modification (special coating) on the

tubes for urinary tract inspection purposes

2) Endotracheal tube (special pattern inside the tube

to prevent dangerous buildup of mucus)

3) Sharklet-patterned central venous catheter

(CVC) (to prevent blood clots)

4) ClearSight™ Intraocular Lens for cataract

surgeries

5) Adhesive films for anti-bacteria protection

Technology

Nanotechnology can providehigh durability for fabrics,because nano-particles have alarge surface area-to-volumeratio and high surface energy,thus presenting better affinity forfabrics and leading to an increasein durability of the function.

In addition, a coating of nano-particles on fabrics will not affecttheir breath ability or hand feel.

Therefore, the interest in usingnanotechnologies in the textileindustry is increasing.

Technology – Water Contact Angle

Self-cleaning surface having a

water contact angle greater than

150degree and a very low roll off

angle.

Water through these surfaces

easily rolls off and completely

cleans the surface in the

process.

Technology - Methods

The self cleaning textiles can be

manufactured by application of either

fluorocarbons or by nanotechnology.

Limitations!

-Can be overcome by

using nanotechnology

1. Fluorocarbon Principle-

Critical Surface Tension

Solid > Liquid Wetting

Solid < Liquid No wetting

FC Low Surface Tension

FC Coated Fibres No Wetting

LIMITATION:

Good durability cannot be obtained for

cotton.

FC compounds may cause skin related

problems.

Effect will reduce after few washes.

2. PHOTOCATALYTIC SELF CLEANING

The fabric is coated with a thin layer of TiO2 particles

When exposed to light, photons excite electrons in TiO2

The excited electrons react with oxygen atoms in the

air, creating free oxygen.

These oxygen atoms are powerful oxidizing agents,

which can break down compounds (dirt, pollutants, and

micro organism) into carbon dioxide and water.

Since TiO2 only acts as a catalyst to the reactions, it is

never used up. This allows the coating to continue

breaking down stains over and over.

3. Nano-particles by Microwaves

New technology attaches nanoparticles to

clothing fibers using microwaves.

Then, chemicals that can repel water, oil

and bacteria are directly bound to the

nanoparticles.

These two elements combine to create a

protective coating on the fibers of the

material. This coating both kills bacteria,

and forces liquids to bead and run off.

Note

The same technology, created by scientists

working for the U.S. Air Force, has already

been used to create t-shirts and underwear

that can be worn hygienically for weeks

without washing.

Nano-Particles

+

Chemicals

----------------------------

Protective Coating

Technical Limitation of Self-Cleaning Fabric

There are several factors limiting

how fast the reaction takes place on

clothes.

Sunlight is best light source so far

However, for military persons or

hikers, who are outside in the sun for

long period of time, self-cleaning

fabric would be ideal.

Further research and tests are

needed for wider acceptance.

Problems associated with TiO2

TiO2 can only use a verysmall portion of the sun'senergy to break down stains.Thus, it takes a long time andneeds a lot of light energy.

All of the reactions are limitedby and access to the amountof freed electrons in the TiO2.

So for a large stain, a lot oflight energy is needed beforethe fabric can fully break itdown.

Comparisons of textiles

Normal textileWater Repelling

textile

Self-cleaning

textile

MaterialCotton, nylon,

polyester, etc

DWR coating

(Fluoropolymer)TiO2 Coating

Water repelling ✘ ✓ ✓

Anti-bacterial ✘ ✘ ✓

Durability ✘✘

Wears off after

multiple washing

✓Washable and

durable

Impact on

Environment

✘By products of

synthetic

materials

✘Toxic from

fluoropolymer

✓Can be recycled.

Environment

friendly

What’s next… ? We have …

Natural Textile Materials

Cotton, linen, silk, wool

Manmade Textile Materials

Nylon, polyester, acrylic

100% synthetic or blended with natural textiles.

Past PresentWhat if…

Durable

Water repelling

Anti-bacterial

Environment

friendly

Part 1

Value PropositionMain value propositions

Greatly reduce of laundry time (Saving

Time) & makes textiles longer-lasting

Saving money

Saving water resources

Reduction of water pollution

Reduction of potential infections

Increase efficiency (e.g, soldiers)

Time spent on washing clothes

For a family of 4

• Includes pre wash and post

wash tasks such as

• Removing tissues out of pockets

• Pairing up socks

• Arranging your washed cloths

For a lifetime approx. 200 days

Around 7 months of your lifetime

• Weekly routine for a family of four

• Washing #1 : one load of 2 kids cloths

• Washing #2 : one load of adults cloths

• Washing #3 : one load of the other adults

cloths

• Sometimes - : Blankets & Bed sheets

Save money on your dry clean

Water Usage on Laundry

Water Usage in typical Hospital

Water Usage In Home

Washing laundry is a significant use of water in the average home; accounting for

20% to 30% of the overall water consumption inside the typical household of four

persons.

Unaware/ Painful Facts on Laundry Water

Repeating process almost everyday for every

house!

Many parts of the world need water for more

critical conditions, yet we spend (waste) much

water on laundry

Saving water Saving earth

And….. Do you know what you are

pouring out to the water eco-system?

Artificial fragrances

- Skin rashes

- Algae promoter

Optical Brighteners

- Toxic to fishes

- Dyes

Surfactant

- Bond with other toxic heavy metals in

water

Bleaching agents

- Toxic to fishes

Anti-redeposition agent – pollutants

Phosphate – banned but not all countries

What you are pouring into the laundry washing machine

Polluting water bodies such as lakes and rivers

Promoting algae growth and thus create oxygen deficiency in the

water

Poison aquatic lives

Destroying the eco-system with heavy water pollution

The impact on the eco-environment

Reduction of Potential Infections

Total number of licensed

doctors in China is around

2.7m in 2013.

Millions of operations are done

in China every year, and a

certain percentage of these

operation are failed due to

infection after operation. Among

those failures, about 25% of

them are caused by bacteria

and germs of the doctors

clothes and equipments due to

insufficient disinfection and

sterilization.

Increase Efficiency

Materials that provide self-cleaning function will help ensure

the professional (e.g.: soldiers, astronauts and etc) focus on

their missions and not their personal needs, thus increase the

efficiency.

Part 2

MilitaryThere are around 20m active military troops around the

world, 2.28m from China, 1.36m from USA, 1.33m from

India, 1.19m from North Korea.

USA Allowance for cloth

(USD)

Maintenance

allowance for cloth

(USD)

Using normal clothes

Per year pax

500 360

TOTAL (per year) 680m 490 m

Using self-cleaning

textile per year pax

520 60

TOTAL (per year) 707m 81.6m

Hospital

One hospital (of 1000

stuff)

Cloth (USD) Maintenance

allowance for cloth

(USD)

Pax 56 33

TOTAL (per year) 56,000 33,000

Using self-cleaning

textile per year pax

70 8

TOTAL (per year) 70,000 8,000

Clean RoomExisting U.S. clean room laundering services face the

following environmental constraints: Rising capital and operating costs due to energy and water

consumption to:

• Treat, filter, store, and heat water

• Condition air in facilities

• Force dry garments

Deplete valuable water resources from local communities to:

• Use large volume of fresh water to wash garments

• Must dispose of large volume of wastewater

Astronaut

NASA is still testing all these anti- bacteria/self-cleaning

materials to increase the comfort level of astronauts.

Part 3

Vertical Disintegration

Self-cleaning

Material

Producer

Garment

Factory

Customer

Distributor

Vertical Integration

• Provide self cleaning textiles to garment

factory

• License/Transfer knowledge of mass

production of self cleaning clothes

De Facto Standard

Self-cleaning

Material

Producer

Garment

Factory

De Facto Standard

• Strong marketing campaign to link “Self Cleaning

Clothes” to Luna Self-cleaning textile

• Certify the clothes to be Genuine Self Cleaning,

similar to “Intel Inside” for PC industry

Partnership

Partnership

Self-cleaning

Material

Producer

Garment

Factory

Customer

with Special

Needs

Partnership

• Form partnership with Garment

Factory to fulfill customers with

special needs

Corporate social responsibility

Self-cleaning

Material

Producer

Government Needy

Family

CSR

• Sponsor Water Conservation Awareness

Programme

• Donate clothes to needy family

Part 4

Value Capture

Production

License & Certificate

Consultation Service

Profit Sharing

Production

Value added through production

process, it is the main source of the

value capturing

License and Certificate

License fee will be charged when the

knowledge on self cleaning textile

processing are transferred to Garment

Factory

LUNA will work as Certificate Issuing

Authority for self cleaning ready clothes,

the Auditing and Certificate will be

charged

Consultation service

Consultation service will be provided for

the licensed Garment Factories

Profit Sharing

Profit-sharing strategy would be

necessary in collaborating with

strategic partners.

Part 5

SWOT analysis

Strength• Advanced technology

• High entry barriers

• Product differentiation

Weakness• High cost of operation

• Slow penetration to low end

market

Opportunities• New markets (furniture,

automobiles)

• Funding from corporations or

government – commercialization

motivates more research.

Threats• Alternative material by competitors

• Government policy

• Current laundry industry

What shall the company do?

• How to appropriate technology?

Technology

• How to sustain customer base? Market

Intellectual Property

Patent

Licensing

Trademark, logos

Technology Enhancement

Strong Brand, Affordable, New Market

Innovation

R&D

Reliability

Conductive textiles

Relationships and Networks

Retailers and brands Branding, design and marketing

Loyalty Contracts with suppliers and

distributors

Negotiation skill Government: defense

Healthcare industry

Wafer fabrication company

Sportswear company

Marketing Understand customer needs

Complementary assets

Designers –

Specialized designers to design specific functional

garments.

Researchers –

Nanotechnology research institutes to cooperate with

company in development of technology.

Future Market

Provide self-cleaning garments to

consumer market.

Self-cleaning fabrics can also be

implement in furniture, kitchenware and

automobile industry.

Advanced research on smart fabric for

electronic applications.

Promising future of textiles

We believe that the technical textile industry will continue to grow. The

demand of technical textile with self-cleaning function is one of the key

to development of smart textile.

Part 6

Conclusion

Nanotechnology has enabled the realization of self-cleaning fabrics through various way of coating treatment on fabrics.

Self-cleaning fabrics propose values into users and the environment: Reduce laundry and labor cost

Increase productivity

Environmental impact

Health protection

Targeted customers: military, healthcare and high-tech sectors.

Commercialization through partner and licensing.

Recommendations: More intensive research have to be done to bring down the cost of

production and increase the affordability on daily consumer.

Coating treatment on other surfaces such as windows, vehicles and furniture.

Thank you