10002357Hyper-Viscoelastic Fibre Extrusion for Textile ManufactureClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKImagine a new generation of stretch textile that didn't just behave like a spring but could also actively dampen and/or control energy. Imagine the radical impact that this could have on the market. This could be as radical a change in the market as the initial introduction of stretch fibre with the launch of Lycra(tm). Rheon Labs is a fast-growing materials technology company based in Battersea, London, and was recently named as one of the top UK tech startups of 2021\. For more information see www.rheonlabs.com. Rheon Labs has developed RHEON(tm) technology, a reactive polymer that dynamically stiffens when subjected to force. The technology can control energy of any amplitude or frequency -- from small vibrations to forces at ballistic-speeds -- and therefore has a wide range of applications. The Innovate UK Smart Grant backed project aims to develop a hyper viscoelastic fibre from RHEON(tm) which displays high strain-rate sensitive properties. Creating a fibre with unique strain-rate sensitive properties will be a world first. It will enable the creation of a 'breakthrough-generation' of stretch textiles that can actively absorb energy during movement. For close-fitting activewear and sports bras, the ability to actively control muscle mass or soft tissue movement during exercise will be a game-changing advancement. It will allow brands to engineer garments that relax during everyday use but actively stiffens during exercise for improved support and performance. Creating a fibre with unique strain-rate sensitive characteristics could be as radical a change in the market as the initial introduction of stretch fibre with the launch of Lycra(tm). The textiles would have a multitude of beneficial properties and would provide significantly less compression in the garment than conventional materials, substantially improving user comfort. We believe comfort, support and performance in all garments could be improved if energy were being controlled more effectively. RHEON(tm) fibre provides the opportunity to revolutionise the active sportswear garment industry and deliver the next generation of stretch textiles to an industry where innovation in fibre technology has been lacking in recent years.