SAF™ (Super Absorbent Fibre) on display in Shanghai at CMEF

The high absorbency and water retention properties of superabsorbent polymers play an important role in various medical applications. SAF™ (Super Absorbent Fibre) is a medically approved fibrous super absorbent that is used extensively within the advanced wound care sector due its excellent absorption, retention and containment properties, and will be on display at the China Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) in May this year. SAF™ manufacturer Technical Absorbents Ltd will share a booth (6.1N41) with Bluestar Silicones at the event, which will take place between 15th and 18th May at the National Exhibition and Conference Centre in Shanghai. SAF™ is predominantly used within advanced moist wound care dressings for applications which involve high levels of exudates that need to be effectively captured and contained. As a fibre, SAF™ can absorb extremely quickly up to 200 times its own weight in demineralised water and up to 60 times its own weight in salt water. It is white and odourless, can be produced in a range of absorbency grades, staple lengths and decitex, and can be easily converted into a wide range of nonwoven fabrics and spun yarns. The integration of a SAF™ fabric within a wound dressing provides rapid uptake and retention of exudates from the infected area, without actual wetting. This helps create an excellent healing environment, limits bacterial growth and can result in dressings needing changing less frequently. “Selecting SAF™ as the absorbent component can provide significant benefits,” explains Commercial Director Paul Rushton. “The fibre can be used to manufacture lightweight, soft and flexible fabrics that are well suited to such applications. Being fibrous, there is minimal dusting and shedding during conversion and the resulting absorbent profiles within finished fabrics is extremely uniform. “In addition to manufacturing SAF™, we also manufacture a wide range of SAF™, medical fabrics. We have just recently added a new range of 20-80gsm low basis weight nonwovens to our portfolio that offer a thinner more discrete solution, yet still provide high levels of absorbency. “SAF™ technology is already well recognised within the European and North American wound care markets and we are looking forward to further introducing the technology to Chinese companies at CMEF.”