Functional Fiber Applications and Their Testing Methods, Certification and IPR Protection in Japan

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Functional Fiber Applications and Their Testing
Methods, Certification and IPR Protection in
Japan

• (Announced by Japan)
• Presenter
• YAMASAKI Yoshikazu
• Head of Osaka Office and General Manager of
  Technical Group, Japan Chemical Fiber Association

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1. Classification of the Functional fibers
Table 1.Classification of the Functional Fibers
for Safety, Health Care and Comfort
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2. Testing methods and certification

• 1st stage General performance of textile
  goods --
• JIS - Japanese
  Industrial Standard
• 2nd stage New functions at their early
  stages of
• development. -- Each
  company's testing
• methods.
• 3rd stage When the same fibers are
  commercialized by
• other companies-- The
  unified testing methods
• are established.
• 4th stage These functional fibers to come
  into wider use
• The unified standards for
  their performance are
• worked out, and the
  certification system to allow
• the products that satisfy
  the standards to be
• labeled a unified mark is
  established.

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3. How to operate the certification system

• It is important to operate the certification
  system in a transparent and fair manner to
  protect consumers.

It is desirable that the system is designed in
conformity with the ISO Guide 65. And to give
consideration not to allow the standards to
handicap imported products
Under the system, 1. The meeting to
establish the testing methods and standards is
attended by the representatives of user
industries , consumers and administrative
officials as observers.
2. Furthermore, the certification system is
operated by a public corporation as
the operating entity.
3. When universal testing methods mentioned
above are established, such procedures are
proposed to the JIS and to the ISO as well to
make them fairer.
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Table 2.Certification System for Functional Fibers
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1) Certification system under the provisions of
laws

• Ex. Flame-retardant Curtains and Carpets for
  specific applications
• (The standards prescribed by the Fire Defense
  Law, and the certification and label are issued
  by Japan Fire Retardant Association)
• Testing methods Curtains burning at an angle
  of 45 degrees
• Carpets Meckel's burner method
• As the standards are associated with safety, they
  are managed in a very strict manner.
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Certification by the Fire-Defense-Agency
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2)Testing methods and representation system under
the provisions of laws

• Ex. Working wears for preventing electrostatic
  hazards for specific applications
• Testing methods JIS T 8118 Working wears for
  preventing electrostatic hazards.
• The working wears for preventing
• electrostatic hazards worn in workplaces
• where combustible gases are used must
• comply with the JIS standards
• mentioned above.
• ( Provisions of the Industrial Safety
• and Health Law)

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(No Transcript)
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3) Certification systems operated by
quasi-public organizations

• Ex.(A) Heat retention by Far infrared radiation
  fibers
• The certification and label are issued by Japan
  Far Infrared Rays Association (JIRA)
• Items of evaluation
• 1) Radiation characteristics
• Far infrared spectral emissivity
• (FT-IR)
• Re-radiation characteristics and 45-degree
  parallel radiation
• 2) Temperature characteristics
• A.Wearers' skin temperatures
• measured by thermography
• B.Feeling of wearing by monitor tests

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• Ex. (B) Anti-bacterial/ odor-preventing fibers
  and Microbial control fibers
• The certification and label are issued by Japan
  Association for the Function Evaluation of
  Textiles (JAFET)
• Testing methods JIS L 1902-2002 (quantitative
  method) (the procedures are now being proposed to
  ISO)

Microbial-control properties
Anti-bacterial / odor-preventing properties
Medical institutions
Home use in general
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Comparison of bacteria between Anti-bacterial
odor preventing properties and Microbial control
properties (JAFET's standards)
Testing methods JIS L 1902-2002 (quantitative
method) (the procedures are now being proposed to
ISO )
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• Ex.(C) Deodorization fibers
• The certification and label are issued by Japan
  Association
• for the Function Evaluation of Textiles (JAFET)
• The type of the odor as an object of the
  evaluation.
• Smell of Sweat, Smell of Aging, Smell of
  Excretion etc.
• The standard in the case of The Smell of sweat
• A The Gas as an object NH3, Acetic Acid,
  Isovaleric Acid
• B Testing Methods
• a. Sensory test b. Measurement by
  Instrument
• Detecting tube method or gas
  chromatography
• method  

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Ex.(D) Anti-mite fibers

• The certification and label are issued by
  Japanese Association for Anti-mite Finished
  Products .
• Applicable products Carpets and bedding
• Testing methods
• For Repellent effect
• To prevent invasion of mites (carpet) or glass
  tube method (wadding)
• For Retardance of increase in mites Culture
  medium contact method

Anti-mite Finishing
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• Ex.(E) Biodegradable fibers
• Biodegradable Plastics Society (BPS) started
  the system to identify and mark biodegradable
  plastics (called "Green Pla") in June 2000.
• Outline of standards
• 1. Configuration of product
• 2. PL representation standards
  (Biodegradability)
• 3. PL representation standards (Toxicity and
  environmental safety)

Green Pla
Test result of the Biodegradability fiber
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Note 1. Its certification system is now under
review, and will be changed to the Classification
3 when it is established.
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4. Protection of intellectual properties

• To develop and use functional materials with
  an aim to increase added value of products and
  reinforce international competitiveness, we must
  have a point of view that prominent inventions,
  manufacturing know-how, designs and brands should
  be properly treated as intellectual properties,
  and created, protected and utilized in a
  strategic manner.

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• (1) Need to protect intellectual property right
• - Reasonable rewards to be paid to research and
  development
• - Provision of incentives to research and
  development
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• (2) Measures to be taken by government
• - Establishment of an appropriate system for
  intellectual property right
• - Quick and proper measures to cope with the
  cases of infringement of intellectual property
  right
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• (3) Measures to be taken by industry
• - Elimination of infringement of intellectual
  property right
• - Education of employees regarding intellectual
  property right
• Thank you for your kind attention