UK-based company, Technical Absorbents reports today that it’s Oasis Super Absorbent Fibre (Oasis SAF), was positively received by visitors to the recent CINTE Techtextil international trade fair held in Shanghai, China.

The highly specialised 3-day trade show of over 320 stands is the only one of its kind in China, featuring technical textiles, nonwovens and machinery and received a record number of visitors, over 18,000, coming from all over the world to visit the dynamic sourcing, networking and information exchange platform that is CINTE.

Applications for the super absorbent technology include food packaging, hygiene, medical and dental goods and it is regulated by the United States of America Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a fluid absorbent in food contact materials.

Oasis SAF is a cross-linked polymer (three different monomers) of acrylic acid (AA) methylacrelate (MA) and a small quantity of a special acrylate/methacrylate monomer (SAMM). The reaction between the acid groups in acrylic acid and the hydroxyl groups in hydroxpropylmethacrylate result in ester groups. These are formed as a result of cross-links between polymer chains.

Oasis SAF is white, odourless and is said to have the appearance and improved handling characteristics of a textile fibre, while offering the possibility of being used to produce a wide range of soft handle fabrics.Along with the advantages of easy handling, it is also said to possess enhanced containment ability and increased compatibility with different processing techniques and machinery.

In addition to the manufacture of Oasis SAF, Technical Absorbents toll manufactures nonwovens, yarns, woven fabrics and finished consumer goods – all containing Oasis SAF.This is as a result of the relationships it has built with some of the world’s leading specialist fibre converters, roll-goods producers and end product manufacturers.It is developing similar networks with Asian companies in order to enhance routes to market within the region.

The event allowed the opportunity for the company to further raise its profile within Asia especially as Technical Absorbents is owned by Bluestar Fibres Limited, a subsidiary company of China National BlueStar (Group) Company, who are part of ChemChina, one of China’s fastest growing chemical groups.

The Technical Absorbents stand presented a variety of end uses for the super absorbent technology, including applications within the Agrotech, Indutech, Sporttech, Packtech, and Medtech sectors and is said to have been well received by the many visitors to the stand leading to a number of meetings with new and prospective customers.

Technical Absorbents’ Business Development Manager, Dave Hill commented: “Our presence at the CINTE event affords us a very good platform to engage with the key supply chain players, across an extremely widespread market base applicable to the SAF technology. Technical Absorbents is experiencing significant business interest for utilisation of its superabsorbent product portfolio within a diverse range of application areas relevant to the domestic China markets.”

Alongside the exhibition, the organisers, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Limited, organised fringe programmes including product presentations and symposium, gaining positive feedback from the industry audience showing a demand for advanced technology growing in China.Mr Hill delivered a presentation entitled “Absorbent Media for Food Packaging” which is also said to have been well received.