What's PIECLEX?
To realize a sustainable society, our technologies and initiatives need to be friendly to the earth and people at the same time.
We developed a new material called “Electric Fibers”PIECLEX by combining “Electronics Technology” from Murata Manufacturing and “Fiber Expertise” from Teijin Frontier.
When deformed by human movement※, PIECLEX fibers generate tiny electricity, which then exerts an antimicrobial effect.
PIECLEX is proud of its environmentally friendly and unprecedented innovative properties, which, when applied to the fields like apparel fashion, consumer goods, industrial materials, healthcare, etc., would allow people who use PIECLEX products to contribute to a sustainable society, and that by simply buy and use them.
- ※Antimicrobial effect is to inhibit the growth of microbial.
- ※Inhibit effects vary depending on usage conditions.
PRODUCTS
Sustainability
Friendly to the earth and people
PIECLEX is made of ploylactic acid derived from plants such as corn and sugarcane, so it can contribute to carbon neutrality. Antimicrobial effect of PIECLEX consists in its electrical function and has nothing to do with antimicrobial agents, so is friendly to the earth and people at the same time.
Per a third-party organization who verified its effectiveness, it was revealed that the CO₂ emissions of PIECLEX in life cycle, from production to disposal, is approximately 41% lower than that of petroleum-derived polyester material (PET fiber).
- ※According to Waste Box Co., Ltd.
“P-FACTS” : Circular infrastructure from “Cherish-to-Wear” through to “Easy-to-Compost”
PIECLEX is promoting the establishment of a circular infrastructure called 'P-FACTS,' which not only fashion brands but also consumers can easily participate in to contribute to the environment.
It is a transparent circular system that covers the entire life-cycle of clothes: from creating slow-fashion items, collecting them after long-use, then lastly composting for reuse in forestry and agriculture. P-FACTS makes sure that plant-based fibers to be returned back to earth.
By broadening the scope of such initiative, PIECLEX shall fulfill our responsibilities in terms of sustainability.
Technology
Mechanism of electricity generation
Raw material for PIECLEX or plant-derived polylactic acid fibers generate electricity when stressed, which is called piezoelectricity.
The piezoelectric effect is a phenomenon where electric field is exerted when a certain type of material is deformed.
PIECLEX fibers generate electricity through such “piezoelectric effect” when they are deformed.
Antimicrobial effect of PIECLEX
Whenever PIECLEX fibers are deformed, the electric field generated by the piezoelectric effect prevents microbial from sustaining their vital activities, thereby inhibiting growth of such kinds on the surface of fibers.
It is also effective against odor-causing microbial.
Unlike static electricity, the voltage of PIECLEX is not detectable by the human body.
- ※Antimicrobial effect is to inhibit the growth of microbial.
- ※Inhibit effects vary depending on usage conditions.
- ※Safety has been confirmed regarding cytotoxicity and sensitization by Japan Food Research Laboratories.