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lighter, thinner articles with enhanced sculpting, quicker drying and comfort benefits." e close partnership between Schoeller and Lubrizol will allow for further developments based on customer requests and recommendations. States Winkelbeiner, "We can test these advances at our Schoeller headquarters, as well as with our customer base on an ongoing basis. It also works well that Lubrizol has a wonderful testing and innovation center in Gastonia, NC." "is partnership between Lubrizol and Schoeller is founded on common DNA as technology driven companies. Lubrizol brings great depth in material science and technical know-how for polymer based solutions in fiber, film, coating, and adhesive platforms, while Schoeller delivers technical expertise in adapting these into technical textiles that provide both functionality and wearer comfort" says Rob Richardson, Global Business Director for Lubrizol's Performance Textiles business. Richardson adds, "We are excited to be working with Schoeller on advanced textiles across all of our technology platforms." Key Benefits of X4zol™-J Fiber Lubrizol's innovative new X4zol™-J fiber takes apparel fit to the next generation, as it provides balanced 360° comfortable stretch and support, breathability and sustainable benefits. Lubrizol X4zol™-J, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fiber, is a new elastomeric monofilament that is manufactured differently from spandex, resulting in unique qualities that provide high wearer comfort. X4zol™-J is created through solvent-free melt extrusion process. "X4zol™-J is a monofilament, with higher molecular weight than multi-filament spandex that results in a thinner, stronger, softer fabric that delivers a balanced stretch and recovery and comfortable fit for the wearer," states Lalith Suragani Venu, Application Scientist, Lubrizol Advanced Materials. Suragani Venu has been working with Schoeller on fabric properties for the new X4zol™-J offering. "Stretch is the price of entry for today's active wear products, engineered via fibers such as Lubrizol X4zol™-J Performance and lifestyle brands value the comfortable compression and perfect fit fabrics that X4zol™-J provides," states Suragani Venu. ADVERTISEMENT Lubrizol and Schoeller Elevate Compression Performance S choeller Textil AG has teamed with Lubrizol to develop fabrics ideal for modern lifestyle featuring the new X4zol™-J stretch fiber. is innovative collaboration provides a welcome point of differentiation for garment brands and creates apparel that meets the requirements of lightweight functionality and comfort that appeal to today's consumers. A long-established Swiss company known for exceptional stretch woven, circular and warp knit fabrics, Schoeller is always on the lookout for new technologies. Schoeller's partnership with Lubrizol to incorporate X4zol™-J fiber technology enables the companies to jointly innovate new textiles that meet a previously unachieved standard in terms of compression, fabric elongation and wearer comfort. "Most important and intriguing to us was that this was a new elastomer with the key benefit of compression without too much pressure on the body," states Siegfried Winkelbeiner, CEO Schoeller Textil AG. According to Winkelbeiner, the wearability benefits of X4zol™were also very appealing. "Fabrics with X4zol™-J feel nice against the skin with performance properties such as moisture uptake. Everything is about shape and comfort - without compromise – and the answer is X4zol™-J," says Stefano Tonizzo, Head of the Business Unit Eschler Knitting Textiles. e performance characteristics inherent to Lubrizol's X4zol™-J were a key consideration for Schoeller. "Our new Schoeller articles with X4zol™-J reset the standards on unique compression performance. e articles have characteristics of smooth and even stretch under a moderate load and have an unmistakable return," explains Stephen Kerns, President, Schoeller Textil USA. Schoeller presented its first fabrics with X4zol™-J from Lubrizol at the Outdoor Show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, this past June, and has since been previewing the collection at several leading international trade events including Outdoor Retailer. "We have launched three products, which have met with good interest in the market, and we are planning for an additional three or four, which will allow for a complete offering to our biking, triathlon and running categories," Tonizzo explains. Kerns adds, "We have had strong interest from performance partners with our current offerings in next-to-skin knits with X4zol™-J and expect to see some adoption announcements in the near future," says Kerns. "With the performance category and beyond, there is always interest in s 4HINNER STRONGER AND MORE DURABLE s #OMFORTABLE COMPRESSION s "REATHABLE FASTER DRYING AND COOLING SENSATION s "ALANCED STRETCH FOR ENHANCED lT s 3USTAINABLE BENElTS n SOLVENT FREE LOWER PROCESS TEMPERATURES AND recyclable* fiber s #HLORINE AND 56 RESISTANCE Benefits of X4zol™-J in Fabrics VISIT US AT ISPO 2018: Hall C4, Booth 300