Programme: Innovations and Competitiveness

This project proposal suggests the implementation of innovative process – own development, for automatic and software-assisted management of production of thermochromic, photochromic, thermostaxic and with controlled length of colored sectionsmart-yarns, for hand and machine knitting. These yarns possess innovative features and have thermochromic, photochromic and thermostaxic qualities. The innovative process provides covering and laying of thermochromic and photochromic agents over different textile yarns – viscose, polyamide, cotton, mixed wool, silk and others with controlled length of color. The thermochromic covering provides change of color of the yarn as a result of reaction of heat, after which the yarn recovers its previous color. Through the photochromic process occurs a color change of the yarn by irradiation with solar or ultraviolet light. The thermoregulation of the yarn is provided by chemical agents with cooling, heating or thermostaxic effect.
The process represents a significant innovation in the world/European market and surpasses notably its alternatives described in Annex 3. This is valid especially in terms of the innovative abilities of applying the chemical agents for projecting the length of colored sections in advance as well.
Furthermore, the process provides significantly higher productivity, lower expenses of industrial water, energy, dye pigments and technical aids. Thus, leads to better environmental protection. 
The process will provide modern automatic control of the production of smart-yarns, as well as its software support through highly effective software for PLC (Programmed Logic Control). 
Preliminary marketing research has shown that the realization of this project will allow significant increase in both the competitiveness and the export abilities of BULGARIA-TEX in numerous European and world markets.