Japan’s Teijin Frontier has developed a new polyester filament for spun yarns called Octa sf for sportswear and outerwear, providing fabrics with softness, a gentle feel, fluffiness, light weight, moisture absorption and heat retention.

The fibre has a hollow, eight-fin modified cross-section which is being processed using special spinning and drawing technologies to  overcome the softness limitations of existing staple fibres made from modified filament yarn. As suc, it addresses demands for new materials that combine high performance with a desirable tactile feel.

Octa sf yarn’s water absorption and diffusion is due to its eight hollow fins, its bulkiness and lightness due to the gaps between the fibres and heat retention as a result of the presence of dead air.

In addition, its modified cross-sectional shape and the gaps between the fins make it easy to blend with natural fibres such as wool, as well as with lyocell.

The company is also developing related materials for base layers and innerwear, which require a softer, more comfortable texture compared to outerwear.

In staple fibre production, the company uses a special spinneret design to achieve ultra-fine fibres with modified cross-sections and its production process optimises the crimp characteristics, oils and cut length of staple fibre. At the spinning stage, special technology improves the blend of polyester staple fibre and other fibres, as well as the carding conditions, to enhance the quality of the yarn.

Knitting structure and density settings for textiles made with Octa sf yarn are adjusted based on application requirements and dyeing and processing technology can be optimised to achieve high-quality colour and functionality.

Teijin Frontier will begin selling textiles made from Octa sf in the Autumn/Winter of 2025, aiming for sales of 100,000 metres in fiscal 2025 and 500,000 metres by fiscal 2028.

www2.teijin-frontier.com