The Potential of Electric Fiber 'PIECLEX': The Fusion of Murata Manufacturing and Teijin Frontier's Technology

The company that produced 'PIECLEX', an electric fiber, combining Murata Manufacturing's piezoelectric technology with Teijin Frontier's synthetic fiber technology, is PIECLEX Co., Ltd.

The company was established in 2020 as a joint venture between Murata Manufacturing and Teijin Frontier with the goal of developing electric fibers that convert human movement into electric energy and achieving a circular society.

In this interview, we asked Takafumi Inoue, a member of the company's branding team, about the background to the creation of 'PIECLEX', the expansion of its products, the potential and challenges of electric fiber, and future initiatives.

The Characteristics of 'PIECLEX' in Antibacterial Performance

What kind of material is 'PIECLEX', and what led to its development?

"'PIECLEX' is made from a plant-derived resin called polylactic acid. This polylactic acid has the property of generating electricity when force is applied, known as piezoelectricity. This property was known, but there was no specific product development that utilized it.