Technical textiles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Technical Textiles is the term given to textile products manufactured for non aesthetic purposes, where function is the primary criterion.

This is a large and growing sector and supports a vast array of other industries.

Technical textiles include textile structures for autmotive applications, medical textiles (e.g. implants), geotextiles (reinforcement of enbankments), agrotextiles (textiles for crop protection), protective clothing (e.g. against heat and radiation for fire figther clothing, against molten metals for welders, stab protection and bulletproof vests),spacesuits(astraunats).

Textiles used for industrial purposes are commonly known as ‘technical textiles’. Technical products are textile products manufactured mainly for their performance and functional properties rather than decorative purposes. Technical textiles can be classified into many fields, such as medical textiles, geotextiles, protective clothing, agro textiles etc which I will discuss later. Over all growth rates of Technical Textiles in the world are about 4.0%per year* greater than the growth of home and apparel textiles .i.e. at the rate of 1% per year*. In present market opportunities and in free quota system the importance for technical textile materials is increasing to accomodate the needs of requirement. Now day’s most widely technical textile materials are used in filter clothing, furniture, hygiene medicals and construction material.

Classification of technical textiles: As I have mentioned above that technical textiles can be classified into many division depending upon its end usage:

1) Geo textiles: It is used in reinforcement of embankments or in constructional work. The fabrics in geo textile are permeable fabrics and are used with soils having ability to separate, filter, protect or drain. The application areas include civil engineering, earth and road construction, dam engineering, soil sealing and in drainage systems. The fabric used in it must have good strength, durability, low moisture absorption and thickness. Mostly nonwoven and woven fabrics are used in it. Synthetic fibers like glass, polypropylene and acrylic fibers are used to prevent cracking of the concrete, plastic and other building materials. PP and Polyester are used in geo textiles and dry/liquid filtration due to its compatibility.

2) Protective Clothing:Protection against heat and radiation for fire fighter clothing, against molten metals for welders, for bullet proof jackets etc, all these thinks are obtained by usage of technical textiles with high performance fibers. In bullet proof jackets, special fiber aramid are used which have high tenacity, high thermal resistance and low shrinkage. Glass fiber is also used in fire proof jackets due to its high strength, chemical and flame resistance. Protective clothing is also used by the astronauts when they go in space. It was used by the astronauts when they went on moon, their suits where covered with special chemicals including lead to protect them from suns heat, their suit not only made from special fibers but their airship was also lined with special fabric.

3) Medical textiles:It is commonly used in bandages and sutures (stitching the wounds). Not all the textile fibers can be used here, because their performances depend upon interaction with the cells and different fluids produce by the body. Sutures and wound dressing uses fibers like silk and other synthetic fibers. Hollow synthetic fibers are used with nano or very small particles are used for the delivery of drugs to any specific part of the body to prevent over dosage. Cotton, silk polyester, polyamide are also used in medical applications.

4) Agro Textiles:Textiles used in Agriculture is termed as agro textiles. The essential properties required are Strength, elongation, stiffness, and bio-degradation, resistance to sunlight and resistance to toxic environment. All these properties help with the growth and harvesting of crops and other food stuffs.

5) Conveyer belts:For Industrial applications and in power transmission technical textiles are used in Conveyer belts. Carcass is a fabric inside the conveyor belt, which is responsible for the strength and stretch properties of the belt. This carcass is made with layers of woven fabrics bonded together.

6) Electronics in Textiles:It has been heard that soon textile will be merged with electronics in all areas. In future wearable computers would be launched, these will not be like advance wrist watches etc, they will contain IC s in fabric to develop fabric keyboards and other wearable computer devices. These types of products are known as Interactive electronic textiles (IET). Research to support IET development is being conducted in many universities. Growing consumer interest in mobile, electronic devises will initiate the demand for IET products.