| Technical Textiles Overview
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 Textile
Institute Manchester defines technical textiles in the following words:
Textile Institute Manchester defines technical textiles in the following words:
"Materials and products intended for end-uses other than non-protective clothing, household furnishing, and floor covering, where the fabric or fibrous component is selected principally but not exclusively for its performance and properties as opposed to its aesthetic or decorative characteristics" (Textile Terms and Definitions, TI, Manchester, 10theEd.) Another definition of technical textiles by Encyclopedia Universal is cited by Nemoz (2001)
"Technical textiles are materials meeting high technical and quality requirements (mechanical, thermal, electrical, durability...) giving them the ability to offer technical functions" (p. 3). There is a no big difference in the above mentioned two definitions of technical textile. A third definition is by Memon and Zaman (2007), "Technical textiles as defined as textile materials and products manufactured primary for their technical performance and functional properties, rather than for their aesthetic and decorative it  characteristics"(p.120). |
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Messe Frankfurt divides technical textiles into following twelve
categories: |
 Agrotech |
Hometech
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Oekotech |
| Buildtech |
Indutech
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Packtech
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| Clothtech |
Meditech
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Protech
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| Geotextiles |
Mobitech |
Sportech |
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There might be many more classifications of technical textiles. All the above discussion is an effort to provide an overview of technical textiles. This short discussion is enough to understand different types of technical textiles.
- The invention of synthetic fiber provided an edge to technical textiles and today majority of technical textiles are made of synthetic fibers.
- First synthetic fiber, acetate, was invented in 1799 known as artificial silk.
- Later in 1894, it was known as Viscose and in 1924, it was called Rayon.
- Rayon, viscose, and acetate are not truly synthetic; their raw material is mainly wood pulp.
- Nevertheless, Nylon is the first synthetic fiber made in USA in 1939 and possesses many characteristics which are highly useful in technical textile.
- Another landmark in the production of synthetic fiber is invention of polyester, which was invented in 1953.
- There is a long list of synthetic fibers, which are available today, and frequently used in every new product. Discussion on the development of synthetic fibers is out of the scope of this article.
- Until the manmade fibre was discovered the natural fibre was the key source for technical textile manufacturing. The mostly used natural fibres were cotton, wool, jute, linen, etc.
- Till date competing with manmade fibre the cotton & the jute has kept a good share market as a key raw material for technical textiles.
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The main process used for technical textiles are:
- Knitting
- Weaving
- Braiding
- Nonwoven
- Tufting etc.
Out of all , nonwoven technique dominates the whole lot of technical textiles manufacturing techniques.
There are many ways and techniques to produce technical textile. Tex.in (2009) has provided the following methods to manufacture technical textile:
- Thermo-forming
- Three Dimensional Weaving
- Three Dimensional Knitting
- Fabrics Produced Using Nanotechnology
- Heat-set Synthetics
- Finishing Treatments such as Water-resistant Coatings & Holographic Laminates
- Hand-made elements such as Stitch or Appliqué
Above list covers probably maximum methods to produce technical textile.
Nevertheless, there might be other ways to produce technical textile. |
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Some example of modern textile fibre & fabrics are:
- Breathable artificial fabrics
- Ultra-lightweight & high-stretch synthetic fibers,
- Thin & light reflective fabrics,
- Hollow fibers
- Blended fibres
- Ultra microfibers.
- Three-dimensional(3-D) structured fabrics.
- Metallic textiles
- Extreme Sportswear
- This exquisite fabric.
- Phase change materials.
Electronic textiles are normally known as the e-textiles or smart textiles. Here are some example of this type of textile:
- Sports shoes
- Wearable computer jackets
- Warning vests
- Photonic textiles for innovative lighting solutions
- Wearable E-Health system
- Electronic Textiles to Help Battlefield Medics
- Global positioning system (GPS) jackets.
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Introduction to Technical Textile
Textile industry is normally considered as an industry which fulfills the demand like climate protection, increase in the aesthetic sense, over and all apparel need & this sector is then well known as traditional textile or general textile.
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Definition of Technical Textiles