Customizable textile 3D knitted face masks – further initiatives at the ITM of TU Dresden

As of April 20th 2020, face masks are compulsory during shopping and when using public transportation in the State of Saxony. The corresponding regulation was released on April 17th 2020 by the State of Saxony. 

Due to the newly issued general ruling introducing essential protective measures to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, the previously presented textile 3D knitted face masks will be further developed after the restart of the laboratory research services on April 20th 2020 at the Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM), TU Dresden. ITM researchers aim at making a valuable societal and sustainable contribution to the public good.

Hence, over the last few days, contacts with long-standing network partners were intensified. In collaboration with the renowned textile machinery manufacturer H. Stoll AG & Co. KG from Reutlingen, Germany, new variants of textile 3D knitted face masks were manufactured on a flat knitting machine type Stoll ADF 530-32 BW based on technological know-how provided by ITM researchers.

At the research institute, several types of face masks based on various material combinations can be manufactured on flat knitting machines from two renowned textile machinery manufacturers. These masks are washable, reusable, and customizable according to specific requirements and fits. Depending on the material combination, reusable masks may be suitable for boil wash with standard detergent or can be washed at 60° with disinfectant detergent. Moreover, an optional pocket for additional filter structures can be integrated into the mask directly during the manufacturing process. These knitted face masks are easy to handle - intuitive, fast, uncomplicated - so that they can also be used by wearers of eyeglasses without needing the help of another person. By specifically combining various materials, desirable properties, such as breathability, wear comfort, and skin tolerance, can be implemented; ITM staff has already completed intial test trials with different material combinations. 

In its role as one of the world´s leading textile research institutes, the ITM recently made a valuable societal and sustainable contribution to the public good by developing customizable face masks covering the mouth and nose. Hence, the team of ITM employees that is responsible for these developments would gladly use their expertise, experience, and technological know-how to support partiularly SME of the German textile industry and forge new alliances and cooperations.

ITM experts are already in contact with several industrial partners in order to quickly transfer this technology for textile 3D knitted masks into serial production. The goal is to produce customized textile products that are in accordance with valid standards and regulations and can therefore be used as approved protection masks.

The ITM was provided with various testing material free of charge, thus enabling targeted investigations into various material combinations for further optimizing different types of face masks. We would like to thank the following companies for their support: EMS-CHEMIE AG, Gebrüder Otto GmbH & Co. KG, TWD Fibres GmbH and W. Zimmermann GmbH & Co. KG.

Contact person for requests:

Technische Universität Dresden
Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM)
Research Group Leader / Research Associate
Dipl.-Ing. Eric Häntzsche