⚗️ Functional · Technical · Specialty Yarn
Differential Yarn Series
High-performance functional polyester yarns — Aerogel, Graphene, Antibacterial, Cooling, Mosquito Repellent, Photochromic, Fire Retardant, Twisted Yarn, Antimony-Free and more. Fiber-integrated performance, not surface coatings. Custom production available.
10+ Functional Types
Custom Available
DTY · PSF
FOB Xiamen
What Is Differential Yarn?
Beyond Standard Polyester — Engineered Performance
Differential yarn is polyester engineered through modified chemistry, nano-particle incorporation, or structural design to deliver a specific functional property. Warmth without weight. Built-in antibacterial protection. Flame resistance. Colour that changes in sunlight. These properties are built into the fiber itself — not coatings — ensuring durability through repeated washing.
⚗️ Custom Production Available
All types can be customised — denier, filament count, lustre, colour and functional level. Share your specification and we will advise on options and produce a sample for testing before bulk order.
Full Range
10 Functional Yarn Types
Each type delivers a distinct functional advantage engineered into the fiber — not a surface treatment.
Popular
Aerogel Fiber
DTY: 50D/72F · 75D/48F · 75D/72F · 100D/96F · 150D/144F
PSF: 1.2D · 1.5D · 2D · 3D · 6D
PSF: 1.2D · 1.5D · 2D · 3D · 6D
Incorporates aerogel — the world's lightest solid and best thermal insulator — into polyester filaments. Exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio. Significantly warmer per gram than standard polyester fill at a fraction of the bulk. Ideal for ultra-lightweight down-alternative insulation and thin thermal garments.
Ultra-light thermal insulation
Popular
Graphene Fiber
DTY: 75D · 100D · 150D
PSF: 1.4D · 3D
PSF: 1.4D · 3D
Incorporates graphene nanoplatelets into the polyester matrix. Exceptional thermal conductivity distributes body heat evenly — no cold spots. Inherent antibacterial properties and improved static dissipation. Used in warm-touch base layers, performance sportswear and medical textile.
Heat distribution + antibacterial
Key Product
Antibacterial Fiber
DTY: 75D · 150D
Silver ion or zinc-based antibacterial agent incorporated into the fiber. Inhibits growth of bacteria and odour-causing microorganisms. Effective after 50+ wash cycles — not a surface treatment. Tested to ISO 20743. Used in sportswear, medical garments, underwear and socks.
Odour control · Hygiene
Popular
Cooling Yarn
DTY: 30D · 150D
Xylitol or mineral-based cooling agent incorporated into the polyester. Creates an immediate cool-to-touch sensation when fabric contacts skin — measured by QMAX value. Noticeably cooler than standard polyester. Used in summer sportswear, T-shirts and sleepwear for hot climates.
Cool-touch sensation
Mosquito Repellent Yarn
DTY: 75D · 150D
Encapsulated insect repellent (citronella or permethrin-based) incorporated into the fiber. Releases repellent molecules slowly, creating invisible protection. Effective for 50+ wash cycles. Used in outdoor clothing, camping gear, children's wear and tropical market garments.
Built-in insect protection
Photochromic Yarn
DTY: 75D/24F · 150D/48F
Incorporates photochromic pigments that change colour when exposed to UV light and revert indoors. Creates visually striking colour-changing effects. Used in children's wear, fashion streetwear and promotional textile where visual novelty is a key selling point.
UV-activated colour change
Safety
Fire Retardant Yarn
DTY: 50D – 600D
FR agent incorporated into the polyester polymer — not a topical coating. Meets NFPA, EN 11612 and other fire protection standards. Used in workwear, protective clothing, contract furnishing and children's sleepwear where fire safety standards apply.
Meets NFPA / EN 11612
Twisted Yarn (Crepe)
DTY: 30D – 600D
High-twist polyester DTY that creates a distinctive crepe texture in fabric. Tight twist structure produces a pebbly, textured surface with enhanced drape. Used in crepe fabric, chiffon, georgette and fashion woven fabric where textural interest is required.
Crepe texture · Drape
Eco
Antimony-Free Yarn
DTY: 50D – 300D
Produced using titanium or germanium catalyst instead of antimony trioxide (Sb2O3). No detectable antimony content. Required by EU brands and OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN certified products. Performance identical to standard polyester — simply a cleaner chemistry.
Zero antimony · OEKO-TEX compatible
Sea Island DTY
DTY: 90D · 105D · 150D
Island-in-sea bicomponent DTY. Ultra-fine microfilaments after alkali reduction create suede-like or velvet fabric surfaces. See also our dedicated Sea Island Series page for the full range including FDY and custom PCP options.
Ultra-fine microfibre
Specifications
Complete Specification Table
| Yarn Type | Form | Denier Range | Functional Agent | MOQ | Key Standard / Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerogel Fiber DTY | DTY | 50D/72F – 150D/144F | Aerogel nanoparticles | 1,000 kg | Thermal resistance (CLO value) |
| Aerogel PSF | PSF | 1.2D – 6D | Aerogel nanoparticles | 500 kg | Fill power equivalent |
| Graphene Fiber DTY | DTY | 75D – 150D | Graphene nanoplatelets | 1,000 kg | Thermal conductivity + antibacterial |
| Graphene PSF | PSF | 1.4D · 3D | Graphene nanoplatelets | 500 kg | Antibacterial ISO 20743 |
| Antibacterial DTY | DTY | 75D · 150D | Silver ion / zinc | 1,000 kg | ISO 20743 · 50+ wash cycles |
| Cooling Yarn DTY | DTY | 30D · 150D | Xylitol / mineral | 1,000 kg | QMAX cool-touch value |
| Mosquito Repellent DTY | DTY | 75D · 150D | Encapsulated repellent | 1,000 kg | AATCC 145 · 50+ wash cycles |
| Photochromic DTY | DTY | 75D/24F · 150D/48F | Photochromic pigment | 1,000 kg | UV exposure response test |
| Fire Retardant DTY | DTY | 50D – 600D | FR agent (polymer-integrated) | 1,000 kg | NFPA 701 · EN 11612 |
| Twisted Yarn (Crepe) DTY | DTY | 30D – 600D | High twist structure | 1,000 kg | Twist count TPI |
| Antimony-Free DTY | DTY | 50D – 300D | Ti / Ge catalyst | 1,000 kg | ICP-MS Sb content <5 ppm |
| Sea Island DTY | DTY | 90D · 105D · 150D | Island-in-sea bicomponent | 1,000 kg | Fibre splitting ratio after NaOH |
All prices FOB Xiamen. Custom deniers and functional levels available. Contact us for current pricing and test reports.
End Uses
Industries That Use Functional Yarn
Outdoor & Technical
Aerogel and FR yarn for lightweight insulation jackets, mountaineering gear and protective outdoor clothing.
Performance Sportswear
Cooling, antibacterial and graphene yarn for training wear, compression garments and running gear.
Protective Workwear
Fire retardant yarn for industrial protective clothing, oil & gas workwear and flame-resistant uniform fabric.
Medical & Healthcare
Antibacterial and antimony-free yarn for hospital gowns, medical fabric and patient clothing.
Children's Wear
Mosquito repellent yarn for tropical children's clothing; FR yarn for children's sleepwear meeting safety regulations.
Camping & Tropical
Mosquito repellent yarn for camping gear, adventure travel and outdoor clothing in tropical markets.
Contract & Hospitality
Fire retardant yarn for hotel upholstery, contract furnishing and public space textile requiring FR certification.
Fashion & Streetwear
Photochromic and twisted crepe yarn for colour-changing effects and textured fashion fabric.
Why Yaakan
Why Source Functional Yarn from Us
01
10+ Types, One Supplier
Aerogel, graphene, antibacterial, cooling, mosquito repellent, photochromic, FR, twisted, antimony-free and sea island — all from Yaakan. No need to source from multiple specialist suppliers.
02
Fiber-Integrated Functions
All functional properties are integrated into the fiber — not surface coatings. Performance survives repeated washing, unlike topical treatments that fade after 5–10 washes.
03
Test Reports Available
Third-party test reports available for antibacterial (ISO 20743), cooling (QMAX), fire retardant (NFPA/EN) and antimony content (ICP-MS). Share your compliance requirement and we'll confirm availability.
04
Custom Development
Non-standard functional levels and multi-functional yarns (e.g. cooling + antibacterial) available on custom order. MOQ for custom development: 2,000 kg. Trial sample available first.
05
Free Samples for Testing
Samples (0.5–1 kg per type) available before bulk order. DHL dispatch within 5 working days from Xiamen. Test reports can be sent with samples on request.
06
18 Years Export Experience
Yaakan has exported functional yarns to technical textile buyers in Turkey, South Korea, Vietnam, India and Europe for over 18 years. We understand certification requirements across markets.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Surface-treated yarn has the functional agent applied as a coating after production — cheaper but typically only effective for 5–15 wash cycles. Fiber-integrated functional yarn has the agent incorporated into the polymer during spinning — the function is part of the fiber structure itself and cannot wash off. All Yaakan differential yarns use fiber-integrated technology for durable, long-lasting performance.
Aerogel is the world's lightest solid and one of the best thermal insulators — up to 40x more insulating than fiberglass per unit thickness. When aerogel nanoparticles are incorporated into polyester filaments, the fiber retains exceptional insulation properties at very low weight and thickness. A 60g aerogel fiber fill can provide the warmth of 150–200g standard polyester fill. Used in ultra-thin warm jackets, sleeping bags, and performance base layers where warmth-to-weight ratio is critical.
No special processing required. FR yarn can be woven or knitted on standard machines and dyed using standard polyester disperse dye processes. The FR agent is polymer-integrated and stable through dyeing, finishing and washing. Some FR standards (particularly EN 11612) require finished fabric testing — we provide the yarn test report; fabric testing is the mill's responsibility.
Some combinations are feasible — for example, cooling + antibacterial, or graphene (inherently antibacterial) + thermal. Combining multiple agents increases complexity, cost and MOQ. Contact us with your requirement — we will advise on whether the combination is available as standard or needs custom development, and what the MOQ and lead time would be.
MOQ is 1,000 kg per specification for all DTY functional types; 500 kg for PSF types. Custom development orders typically require 2,000 kg minimum. Samples (0.5–1 kg) are free — you pay DHL courier cost only. Dispatch within 3–7 working days. Test reports sent with samples on request. Contact us via WhatsApp or email with your required type and specification.
Enquire About Functional Yarn
Tell us your yarn type, required function, denier and application — we'll respond with specifications, test reports and pricing within 24 hours. Samples available.
