Mackenzie Fly Fishing reports tick-repellent properties in graphene-infused clothing range
Scottish company Mackenzie Fly Fishing has developed a graphene-infused clothing line that reportedly repels ticks without the use of chemical treatments. The discovery occurred accidentally during field testing, leading the company to integrate the material into their outdoor apparel.
Why it matters
This innovation offers a potential non-toxic solution for preventing tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease in outdoor environments.
Scottish company Mackenzie Fly Fishing has launched a graphene-infused clothing range that it claims repels ticks without chemical treatment, following what the company describes as an accidental discovery during outdoor testing.
The Inverness-based firm, founded around two decades ago by five-time World Casting Champion Scott Mackenzie and businessman Angus Morrison, is already known internationally for its fishing rods, lines and equipment. About ten years ago it started working with Professor Gary Savage - a composites specialist with a background in Formula 1, aerospace and military engineering - to develop what it describes as the world's first graphene high-performance fly-fishing rod. The company subsequently applied the material to textiles, working with fabric developers on construction techniques combining graphene with other advanced materials. According to Mackenzie, the difficulty was never simply adding graphene to a product - it has to work alongside the right materials and be incorporated through specialist construction techniques.
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