Promoted by FEPSA and developed in partnership with Fibrenamics - the University of Minho, the project NanoFelt aimed to optimize a production system with the introduction of synthetic fibers in the felting process, along with a functionalization process using metallic nanoparticles, in order to produce felts with self-cleaning, anti-static and anti-microbial capabilities.

Thereby, by changing the morphology of synthetic fibers to make them similar to natural fibers, it was possible to incorporate 30% of synthetic fibers in the felting process combined with natural fibers such as wool and rabbit fur.

This approach allowed to obtain felts produced with a mixture of synthetic and natural fibers functionalized with nanoparticles, able to perform self-cleaning, antistatic, and antimicrobial functions. Finally, as demonstration models, the functionalized felts were applied in the development of a hat, orthopedic boots, prosthesis lining, and foot lining, models that present the functions described above.

Figure 1 - Demonstrator models of the NanoFelt project.