SeaCell™
The wellness fiber with the benefits of seaweed
The pure fiber of SeaCell™ is a cellulose fiber with completely new applications. This special fiber is produced by the so-called Lyocell process using cellulose and seaweed as ”renewable resources”. The new approach is to use the Lyocell fiber as a “ functional carrier” for natural substances such as seaweed. Seaweed contains the minerals of the sea. This explains why the most divers chemical elements can be found in the seaweed materials. In addition, seaweed contains carbohydrates, amino acids, fats and vitamins.
To preserve the smoothness and firmness of the skin ,seaweed is used in cosmetics to improve the blood supply of the skin, activate the meta- bolism and thus promote skin renewal. The active ingredients of the seaweed are incorporated into the SeaCell™ fiber. Upon contact with the skin, these ingredients can be released.
Yarn and fabric production
When processing Lyocell fibers in the usual way, SeaCell™ fibers can be processed to make them even more effective. SeaCell™ yarns lend themselves well to use in knitting and weaving, e.g. in NM 135/1 (25% SeaCell™) for feather-proof bed ticking. SeaCell™ fabrics can be bleached and dyed using the normal methods. By dyeing them with reactive or direct dyestuff, SeaCell™ fabrics can be dyed evenly. They can also be treated to make them softer to the touch or to give them a resin finish.
Comparison of the tenacity
Despite the considerable differences in fiber structure the mechanical properties – here the tenacity – range at the same high level as those of the standard Lyocell fibers. Please see attached file.
SeaCell™ –elution behavior of minerals
Calcium, magnesium are the main minerals contained in SeaCell™ fiber. The diagrams show that the minerals are almost continuously released from the fiber to the environment in an aqueous medium. Even after a total of 72hours elution with demineralized water, the major part of the incorporated calcium and magnesium still remains in the fiber. Please see attached file.
SeaCell™ –amino acids
At the center for Protein Analysis of Fachhochschule Bingen, the SeaCell™ fiber was analyzed for amino acids. The figure shows the amino acid spectrum of the original material, i.e. the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum compared to the spectrum of the SeaCell™ and to that of the finished SeaCell™ fabric. The amino acids found in the raw material could be found in the fiber as well as in the fabric at concentration ratios equivalent to those found in the seaweed. Please see attached file.
SeaCell™ –vitamins
In cooperation with the Institut Fresenius in Berlin, the seaweed, the SeaCell™ fiber, the aqueous extract and a fabric sample made from 100% SeaCell™ were analyzed for the respective vitamin C, vitamin E and carotinoid concentrations. While the water-soluble vitamin C was only found in SeaCell™ fiber and fabric but also in the aqueous eluates (24 h shaking). The most important conclusion to be drawn from the tests is that in the humid environment of the skin surface the SeaCell™ fiber is able to release its active ingredients as required. Please see attached file.
An excellent idea
SeaCell™ is a registered trade mark with worldwide granted patents belonging to smartfiber AG.
SeaCell™ also meets the requirements of ÖKO-TEX Standard 100 and may therefore be sold as an ÖKO-TEX-certified fiber.
On the basis of the DE/016/0003 contract for label usage, smartfiber AG is entitled to use the ecological symbol of European Union (Eco-label) for its SeaCell™ product as evidence of its exceptional environmental friendliness.
Testing at the department of dermatology-Friedrich Schiller University Jena has demonstrated the skin friendly properties of products with SeaCell™.
SeaCell™ products have also been proven to be harmless to the skin (patch test) and also have a proven non-cytotoxic effect on the skin and organisms.
One special service for manufactures of products with SeaCell™ is product certification. Finished and semi-finished textile products made of SeaCell™ fiber are subjected to extensive analyses by smartfiber AG.
If proved to demonstrate the typical SeaCell™ characteristics, such as amino acid, mineral and vitamin content, the textile product is certified as such.
Only products certified by smartfiber AG may bear the SeaCell™ label (hang tag).