Niber Technologies Uses BASF's Newly Developed Freeflex® E130 TPU Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane to Produce Outdoor Jackets
BASF is Advancing Bluesign® Certification for Freeflex® TPU to Actively Respond to the Increasingly Strict Regulations and Sustainability Demands in the Global Apparel and Textile Industry
BASF Will Also Showcase a Melt Spinning Innovation Solution Using Freeflex® TPU at CHINAPLAS 2026
BASF is Set to Appear at CHINAPLAS 2026: Booth C41, Hall 7.2, Shanghai International Expo Center
March 11, 2026 – At CHINAPLAS 2026, BASF will showcase an outdoor jacket developed in collaboration with leading electrospinning technology company Niber Technologies Ltd. (hereafter "Niber Technologies"). The jacket is made using the newly developed Freeflex® E130, an electrospun nanofilm material based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
Jaehyung Park, CEO of Niber Technologies, stated: “Through our collaboration with BASF, we have successfully developed an ultra-light, soft-to-the-touch, comfortable outdoor jacket. It not only features excellent membrane uniformity and high moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR), but also enhances the film's high-temperature laminate performance, expanding its application possibilities. This TPU-based membrane was produced without the use of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), making it a sustainable alternative to traditional expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes.”
Freeflex® TPU can produce nanofibers ranging from 100 to 600 nanometers through the electrospinning process, forming high surface area and high porosity morphology, which enables superior waterproof and breathable performance.
In addition to the electrospinning innovation, BASF will also showcase a polypropylene (PP)/low-temperature polyester (PET) sportswear fabric containing 15% Freeflex® melt-spun spandex at CHINAPLAS 2026. This fabric provides excellent comfort, quick-drying properties, enhanced elasticity, and durability for activewear. Freeflex® melt-spun spandex complies with REACH standards and has received the Oeko-Tex® Eco Passport certification, meeting the strict safety and chemical transparency requirements of textile applications.
The combination of Freeflex® electrospun nanofilm technology and the versatility of melt-spun fibers continues to support manufacturers in designing and developing the next generation of high-performance apparel. Furthermore, BASF is advancing the Bluesign® certification process for Freeflex®, expected to be completed by 2026, to meet the increasingly stringent regulatory and sustainability requirements of the global apparel and textile industries.
Rohit Roop Ghosh, Vice President and Head of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Business for BASF’s Performance Materials Division in Asia Pacific, commented: “As Bluesign® certification gradually covers the full range of Freeflex® products, BASF aims to collaborate with customers in the apparel and textile industries who seek high-performance, compliant, and eco-friendly material solutions, driving the sustainable transformation together. This initiative further reinforces BASF’s commitment to clean materials, responsible production, and performance-driven textile innovation.”