Electroshock against Corona
Clothing disinfects itself
Murata and Teijin Frontier have developed a piezoelectric substance that can kill microbes such as the corona virus with small electric shocks - without chemicals.
The world's first piezoelectric material, called "Pieclex", can be used to make clothing, diapers and masks, but also industrial products such as filters. Electronic components are woven into the fabric, which generate electrical energy from movement. Teijin, which produces yarns and fabrics, weaves these components into the new fabric, which has been christened "Pieclex". Various articles of clothing can be made from "Pieclex". Teijin uses plant-derived polylactic acid (PLA) as the raw material for "Pieclex" and dispenses with chemicals and organic solvents. Because the material is obtained from plant starch, it is CO2-neutral.
"For the first time, we can now produce substances that render microbes harmless without the use of chemicals," explains Shinji Nikko, CEO of Tejin Frontier. "There has never been a fabric of this kind before. It allows us to produce completely new clothing that gives customers new freedom and benefits the environment in many ways".
By stretching the fabric, electricity is generated in the fabric to kill the microbes without the wearer feeling a thing. This not only makes them harmless, but also prevents the bad smell that the bacteria produce by breaking down sweat and skin residue. This means that the piezoelectric substance also acts as a deodorant.
In order to further develop and market the substance, both companies have founded a joint venture, also called Pieclex. Murata holds a 51 percent stake in the joint venture. Pieclex will develop sportswear, underwear, medical supplies and industrial products such as filters based on the piezoelectric fabric. Production has already started, and Pieclex aims to achieve a turnover of 10 billion yen (92 million dollars) in fiscal year 2025.
"Murata brings his knowledge of piezoelectric components, an area in which the company has gained experience over many years in the manufacture of SAW filters, resonators and sensors. Now we can bring this experience to a completely new area of application outside of traditional electronics," said Tsuneo Murata, Murata's chairman and president.
