2. Technical Textiles: An Overview
By:Chidambaram Rameshkumar,
Bannari Amman Institute of Technology,
Sathyamangalam-638401
Dr.N.Anbumani
PSG College of Technology
Coimbatore-641004
crktex@gmail.com
1.0 Introduction
Technical textiles are textile material and products manufactured primarily for their performance and functional
properties rather then aesthetic or decorative purpose. Aesthetic properties are not much important for the Technical
Textiles. The performance and functional properties are in sense with the agri to aerospace application. Based on the
end uses, fibre selection to the method of processing are the keys to new product development in the textile arena.
Over all growth rates of Technical Textiles in the world are about 4.0%per annum but the apparel and home textiles
are at the rate of 1.0%.
2.0 Classification of technical textiles
Technical textiles application cycle is shown in the figure 1,it gives a vivid picture on the divisions of the technical
textiles, which is a self-explanatory. Some of the major divisions are discussed below.
2.1 Agro Textiles:
Textiles used in Agriculture is termed as agro textiles. The essential properties required are Strength, elongation,
stiffness, porosity, bio-degradation, resistance to sunlight and resistance to toxic environment. The applications
includes all activities concerned with the growth and harvesting of live products and foodstuffs, such as gardening and
land scaping, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and in fences.
2.2 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. Skim an adhesive layer used between the plies and carcass to enhance
the bonding, which is made up of open weave fabric. High strength, shape retention, abrasion resistance and good
UV resistance are required properties for carcass and skim.
2.3 Geo textiles:
Woven and Nonwoen textile materials used by the civil engineering industry to provide support, stability, separation
and drainage at or below ground level. The application areas include civil engineering, earth and road construction,
dam engineering, dump construction, soil sealing and in drainage systems. Strength, extension, durability, low
moisture absorption, puncture resistance, thickness, good hydraulic properties and transmission properties, biological
heat and chemical resistance are the essential properties for the Geo textiles.
3. Fig1: Technical Textile cycle
2.4 Protective clothing:
Protection against heat, flame, water, and hazardous environment are obtained by suitable usage of the technical
textiles with high performance fibres. Based in usage Chemical resistance, heat resistance, durability, moisture
absorption, comfort, cut resistance and impact resistance properties are required.
4. 2.5 Mobiltech:
The scopes of Mobiltech are plenty. Application areas include construction of automobiles, shipbuilding, aerospace,
rail vehicles, motorcycles bikes, airbags, tyres. Each Car has to utilize at least 17 kgs of textile materials. Essential
properties are good sound absorbency, UV resistance, strength retention, durability, formability, filtration efficiency,
and abrasion resistance, bursting resistance and degradation resistance.
2.6 Buildtech:
Textile and composite materials used in the construction of buildings, dams, bridges, tunnels and roads. The
applications are in form of membranes, lightweight solid constructions (awnings and canopies), civil and industrial
engineering, temporary construction, interior construction, in and on earth, in water and traffic route construction.
Glass, polypropylene and acrylic fibres are used to prevent cracking of the concrete, plastic and other building
materials. Adhesive like epoxy resins also used in the textile reinforcement. An awning is an architectural projection
that provides weather protection, is an identity or decorative and wholly supported by the building to which is attached.
Canopy is also an architectural projection comprises of a rigid structure over which a covering is attached. Fabrics
used for roofing needs some special quality like whether resistance, UV resistance .A range of Coated fabrics are
used for roofing purpose. In Seol, Koria, Gieger engineers Inc. has engineered Teflon coated roof over a play ground
with a capacity of 64000 seats stadium is one of the example for new technocrats vision.
2.7 Hometech:
Textile and composites used in the furniture, upholstery and interior furnishing, carpets, floor coverings. Depends on
the environment and place, the selection of the fibre and fabric has to be made.
2.8 Medical textiles:
The applications are in health, hygiene and rescue services. It is commonly used as Sutures and bandages. The
properties required are bio-degradability, fungal and microbial resistance and suitability to human body. Bio textiles is
a term used in the medical textile applications, these are textile elements used in specific biological environments.
This performance depends on the interaction with the cells and biological fluids in terms of bio-stability and
biocompatibility. These bio textiles classified in to following main classes.
1.Grafts, 2.Implants, 3.Prostheses, 4.Sutures& wound dressings and 5.Slow release drug delivery systems.
Grafts are the structure placed inside the body to correct the damages or malformations. Grafts are made from variety
of materials ranging from silk protein to modern synthetic polymers. Examples of grafts are vascular grafts and stent
grafts. Implants are the textile structures used for tissue reconstructions and growth. It is used in hernia repair and
pelvic injury repair this are made from woven, knitted and braided structures. Prostheses used to replace damaged
body parts such as teeth, limbs or eyes. Sutures and wound dressing used for a very long times .it passed through
wide revolutionary stage from silk to synthetic fibres. Slow drug delivery systems are gradually gaining importance
over the conventional dosing systems. Hollow fibres with nano particle based system used for the delivery of drug to a
specific part of a body to prevent over dosage.
3.0 Progress of Technical textiles in Global Market
Present market opportunities and in free quota regime, the prospects for the technical textiles increasing to cater the
needs of the requirements. Table 1 shows %age of technical textile materials in the world during 2005. Out of which
Filter clothing, furniture, hygiene medicals, building & construction materials growth rates are very significant.
Technical textiles % of share in 2005
Automobiles 3
Filter clothing 17
Furniture and upholstery 16
Hygiene and medicals 12
Buildings and construction 12
Agri and forestry 7
Technical components and clothing 6
Packaging 5
Geo textiles 4
Sports wear 3
Environment protection 2
Personal &protection 1
Others 12
Table1: Expected consumption rate of Technical textiles
5. With keep in mind the over all growth rate of technical textiles (4.0%).There are plenty of opportunity for new
entrepreneurs to step in to this market to gain their share.
3.1 Growth of textile material
In general the technical textiles are made in to fabric form from conventional weaving to composite layers. It is
interesting to note down that the Nonwoen and composite production methods has considerable market share, which
is shown in the Table 2. This is due to relative high production rates and suitability to the end uses.
Rate of Growth per
Material US Billion $
annum
Year 2000 2005 %age
Woven 26.71 29.8 2.2
Nonwoen 14.64 19.25 6.0
Composites 6.69 9.16 6.0
Other textiles 11.95 4.06 3.3
All textiles 60.6 72.34 3.7
Table2: Rate of Growth of Textile materials in %age
4.0 Fibres for Technical Textiles
The usages of fibres in the technical textile area are not only the high functional fibres alone, but also the natural (due
to bio-degradability and compatibility) and common man-made fibres occupied considerable share, which is shown in
table 3.
Fibres used in Technical Textiles % age of Usage
Regular fibres 69
High Tenacity Fibres 28
High performance Fibres 2
Special Performance fibres 1
Total 100
Table 3: Fibres for Technical Textiles
4.1 Domestic fibres:
Cotton, silk polyester, polyamide are used in medical applications. PP and Polyester are used in geo textiles and
dry/liquid filtration due to its compatibility. Jute and coir (Ligno-Cellulosic) used in biodegradable products and in
packaging industry. Nylon is been used in the anti- ballistic, Cord, protection and filtration applications.
4.2 High functional fibres:
High functional fibres are having high technical properties based on the end uses. The properties are high tensile
strength, high modulus, good chemical resistance, high dimensional stability, cut resistance and low thermal
shrinkage.
4.2.1 Kevlar:
It is Para-Aramide fibre based on terephthalic acid and p-phynelene diamine. It is highly oriented and high crystalline
(90%) fibre. It is having good fibre tenacity (about 25gfpd),and high thermal resistance and low thermal shrinkage.
This fibre is used for anti ballistic apparel, helmet, industrial protective clothing, gloves, in hot gas filtration, structural
composite for air crafts, optical fibre cable sheath, high pressure and automatic hoses, sail cloths and as special tyres
cords.
4.2.2 Carbon:
It is produced by extruding precursor of acrylics, pitch or specially purified viscose rayon in to filaments, then
carbonized to get carbon. After carbonization the fibre processing is a difficult one, hence the precursor fibre may be
converted in to fabric, there after it is carbonized to get the required product. Final carbon content could be around
92% by weight. High stiffness to weight ratio (for aero space structure applications), softness, high thermal resistance
are the special properties of the carbon fibres.
6. 4.2.3 P-phenylene-2.6-benzobisoxazole (PBO):
It is having very high strength (42gfpd) and tensile modulus of 1300-2000gfpd, which is greater then the any known
fibre. Good flame resistance and heat resistance (68%-LOI) and high decomposition temperature (600° C). It is used
in the anti ballistic vests, protective apparel for fire fighters, lightweight armor for vehicle and for personal.
4.2.4 Ultra high molecular weight poly-ethylene (UHMWPE):
It is having high molecular weight (10 6), produced by Gel spinning technique. It is having Low (0.97) specific gravity,
high Chemical & abrasion resistances and high strength comparable to Kevlar. It is used in anti ballistic protection,
floatable ropes, and nets.
4.2.5 Glass:
t is an inorganic and isotropic fibre. High strength, chemical resistance, electrical, resilience, flame resistances and
low elongation at break are the salient features of glass. It has a high specific gravity (2.5-2.7), it is used in industrial
applications including fire proof, filtration, insulation and in reinforcement.
4.2.6 Alumina silica:
Ceramic fibres reported with a very high temperature resistance, used for furnace insulation and hot air filtration.
4.2.7 Melamine:
These fibres having 50% by weight of melamine cross-linked polymer (specific gravity about 1.44).It is having
outstanding heat blocking properties with low thermal conductivity and good elongation at break (about 18%).
4.2.8 Basalt:
It is produced from the basaltoid rocks. Basalt derived from minerals of Plagiocene and pyroxene. This is used for the
production of high temperature resistance and chemical resistance products.
4.2.9 Noviloid:
This fibre produced with 65% of cross linked novolac, it posses excellent flame retardant properties and
recommended to use up to 150°C in the presence of air and in absence of air it can be used up to 250°C . This can
with stand up to 1000°C in short period exposure to flame.
4.2.10 Fiber composites for chemical protection:
Acetate, PET, PVC and ploy carbonate sheets used to get clear vision in face shield and goggles. Rubber, PVA,
Teflon composite materials used in gloves as a protection layers. TYVAK (spun bonded Ploy ethylene) used in coats
and jackets as barrier to chemicals.
5.0 Technical yarns:
Technical yarns are replacing the traditional usage of textiles in critical applications. The manufacturing of sewing
threads, interlinings, and wadding and insulation materials with high functional fibres plays a critical role in medical
and industrial application.
6.0 Electronics in Textiles:
The electronics may soon be integrated in to the textiles in all areas. These Interactive electronic textiles (IET) may
find useful in many traditional, fashion and industrial textile applications in form of communication, entertainment,
health and safety. A wearable computing is a new form of human computer interaction. This wearable computer is just
more then a wristwatch or regular eye glasses. Prerequisites of wearable computers are constancy, augmentation and
mediation. New developments of wearable computers are made with merging IC s seamlessly in fabric to develop
fabric keyboards. Interactive touch voice and body heat activation are being developed. To develop more appealing
wearable electronics, conductive materials are being used to transform traditional textiles and apparel products into
light weight wireless wearable computing devices. Materials such as metallic, optical fibres, conductive threads, fabric
coatings, and inks are being used to supply conductivity and create wire less textile circuitry. Additional components
including input and out put devices, sensors and power supply are necessary to create IET. DETECT (registered trade
mark), USA, has been developing single and multiple layer sensory fabrics. Piezoelectric materials, MEMS (Micro
electro mechanical systems) used in sensors for receive and respond to stimuli enabling the electronic functions
related to the user. The development of the market for electronics in textiles cannot be accurately mapped out. Of
course, smart cloths are likely to reach the shops in and around two to three years. The price of the electronics as a
whole should not exceed 10 to 20 percent of the total costs of the cloths for capturing good market. Research to
7. support IET development is being conducted in many universities. Growing consumer interest in mobile, electronic
devises will initiate the demand for IET products.
7.0 Intelligent Textiles
Textile products, which are, respond to the external stimuli for specific purpose are called Intelligent Textiles. These
are classified as
7.1Textiles incorporating Phase change materials (PCM)
These are materials used in clothing as encapsulated form to change from its phase from solid to liquid and vice versa
to maintain a comfortable body temperature in severe conditions. The energy stored or released by the phase change
materials (eg. paraffin) depending on the activity of the wearer. This may be used in the car seat covers, gloves boots
and hats. It is used to prevent the body from over heating or over cooling.
7.2 Textiles incorporating Shape memory polymers (SMP)
Shape memory materials are those, which can revert from the current shape to a previously held shape, usually due
to the heat. These shape memory polymers poses different properties below and above its standard temperature.
These materials are used in medical applications, for maintenance of body temperature.
7.3 Textiles incorporating chromic materials
Materials, which are changing color reversibly according to the external environment conditions. These are photo
chromic and thermo chromic materials. Photo chromicsm is a chemical process in which a compound under goes a
reversible changes between two states having separate absorption spectra. Thermo chromic system heat changes the
color of chromophore. On removal of heat source the color reverses to its thermally more stable state. Photo chromic
and thermo chromic materials are used for fashion and military clothing.
7.4 Textiles incorporating conductive materials.
The conductive fibres are of two types .
1. Electrical conductive fibres.
2. Optical conductive fibres.
The electrical conductive fibres integrate the latest wicking finishes with high metallic content in textiles that still retain
the comfort required for clothing. With addition of nickel, metallic coatings of varying thickness, these fibres provide a
versatile combination of physical and electrical properties for a verity of demanding applications, such as thousand-
fold increase in thermal conductivity.
The optical conductive fibres use per floro polymers, which are most transparent in the near infrared region.
Conductive fibres used for the development of military clothing, motion capturing and in tracking of objects. These
fibres can be woven in to fabrics to form radiation shields, optical filters and bar codes.
8.0 Summary
The Technical Textiles development in the present period is seems to be aggressive and real benefits will be realized
soon. The integration of the application of the textiles in and with other fields like chemical, electronics, medical and
environment shows the path for progress.
9.0 References:
“Hand book of Technical textiles,” edited by A.R.Hrrocks and S.C.Annand, Textile Institute Publications-2000 edition.
“Industrial Textiles”, by Sabit Adanur, Wellington seris-1995 edition.
“Textile terms and Definition”, textiles institute publications –1994 edition.
“Manufactured Fibre Technology”, V.B.Guptha and V.K.Kothari, Chapman hall, London-1997edition.
“www. technicaltextiles.com”
8. About the author:
Chidambaram Rameshkumar
Senior Lecturer,
Department of Textile Technology,
Bannari Amman Institute of Technology,
Sathyamangalam-638401
Erode District, India
crktex@gmail.com ,crktex@yahoo.com
Tel: 04295-221289 ,Fax- 04295-223775
Regarding my Research works
Currently I am doing my PhD in the Protective Fabrics. As a part of my study, I have planed to develop a cut
resistance tester and cut resistance fabrics. The total estimated cost for this project is about Rs.15 lacks (Indian
Rupees). In this connection I am looking for grant or suitable sponsors for my project work. If I get financial assistance
through fibre 2 fashion.com business stars, it will be a timely help and booster for my research.
Area of Interest : Spinning, Technical Textiles, Fibres Characterization, Textile Mechanics, Process control in
spinning and Textile marketing
To read more articles on Textile, Fashion, Apparel, Technology, Retail and General please visit
www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/
To promote your company, product and services via promotional article, follow this link:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/services/featrued-article/featured_article.asp
