Fabric made in Waco could aid Gulf Coast oil cleanup
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WEB EXCLUSIVE: It could be the next best tool in helping to clean the gulf oil spill, if it catches BP's attention.
Fibertect is a three-layer fabric its makers said can absorb 20 times its weight, meaning one pound could soak up 20 pounds of oil. The fabric was developed by Texas Tech University through a grant from the Department of Defense to clean up chemical warfare agents.
Fibertect is made in Waco at Hobbs Bonded Fibers for First Line Technology. Vice President of Manufacturing Larry Hobbs said the material is currently being field tested in the gulf.
"There are folks out there that are using it and it's working out well," Hobbs said.
The middle layer of the cloth is activated carbon and the two outer layers are cotton. Hobbs said that carbon layer could help prevent people from falling ill.
"It can actually help the workers down in the gulf that are working right now and getting sick from all of the off gasses," he said.
He said that's because the material neutralizes those fumes. The fabric is also biodegradable and can be reused multiple times.
Hobbs said they produce 40,000 linear meters of the material a month, but are ready to triple that number if needed.