Define technical textile? Describe technical textiles application.

Technical textile

The technical textile is a textile product manufactured for non-aesthetic purposes, where function is the primary criterion. Technical textiles include textiles for automotive applications, medical textiles, geotextiles, agro textiles, and protective clothing. 

The sector is large growing and supports a vast array of other industries. The global growth rate of technical textiles is about 4% per year, which is greater than the growth rate of home and apparel textiles which are growing at a rate of 1% per year. Currently, technical textile materials are most widely used in filter clothing, furniture, hygiene medicals, geotextiles, agro textiles, and construction materials.

Types of technical textile

It can be divided into many sections depending on their end-use. The taxonomy system was developed by Techtextil, and the Messe Frankfurt exhibition GmbH is widely used in Europe, North America, and Asia. Techtextil describes some special application areas: Agrotech, Buildtech, Clothtech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, Medtech, Mobiltech, Oekotech, Packtech, Protect, Spartech, Architect, Military Textile, Autotech, and Smartech. They are sometimes spelled Agrotech, Buildtex, Clothtex, Geotex, Hometex, Inditex, Medtex, Mobiltex, Oekotex (Ecotex), Packtex, Protex, and Sportex.

1.   Buildtech or construction textiles

Construction Textiles are used in concrete reinforcement, facade foundation systems, interior construction, insulation, roofing materials, air conditioning, sound resistance, visual protection, sun protection, and building protection.

An interesting and aesthetically appealing application is the use of textile membranes for roof construction. This region is also called textile architecture. PVC-coated high-significance PES, Teflon-coated glass fiber cloth, or silicone-coated PES are used for their low creep properties. Great examples of this type of construction are found in football stadiums, airports, and hotels.

2.   Clothtech or clothing textiles

Technical textiles for garment applications. Technical textiles support the fabric for smooth processing, especially in the finishing process where the fabric is treated under pressure and high temperature. It is usually a blend of polyester, model, viscose, nylon, etc.

3.   Geotech or geotextiles

These are used in the reinforcement or construction of dams. Fabrics in geotextiles are permeable fabrics and are used in soils with the ability to separate, filter, protect, or drain. Areas of application include civil engineering, earth and road construction, dam engineering, soil ceiling, and sewerage systems. The fabric is used for good strength, durability, low moisture absorption, and thickness. Most non-woven and woven fabrics are used in it.

Synthetic fibers such as glass, polypropylene, and acrylic fibers are used to prevent the cracking of concrete, plastics, and other building materials. Polypropylene and polyester are used in geotextiles and dry/liquid filtration due to their suitability.

4.   Hometech or domestic textiles

It was used in a household environment - interior decoration and furniture, carpeting, sun protection, cushion materials, fireproofing, pillows, floor, and wall coverings, and textile reinforcing structures/fittings.

Building, ship, caravan, bus, and fire-retardant materials are used for such a large field in the contract market. Fire retardant properties are obtained either by using inherent fire-retardant fibers such as modern acrylic or by applying a coating with fire-retardant additives.

5.   Indutech or industrial Textiles

Industrial textile technology is used for textiles related to chemical and electrical applications and mechanical engineering. Silk-screen printing, filtration, plasma screens, propulsion technology, lifting/conveying equipment, sound-proofing material, smelting process, roll cover, grinding technology, insulation, seal, fuel cell, etc.

6.    Lifting textiles

It is used in the process of lifting heavy goods. The textile produced is strongly woven with high positive yarn and the fabric is treated by controlling its expansion with heat and high temperature. It is usually made of high-positive polyester and nylon but HMPE yarn is also used as dynamite.

7.   Mobiltech

These textiles are used to make automobiles, railways, ships, aircraft, and spacecraft. Examples are Truck covers, car trunk coverings, lashing belts for cargo tie-downs, seat covers, seat belts, non-wovens for cabin air filtration, airbags, parachutes, boats, and air balloons. Carbon composites are mostly used in the manufacture of airplane parts while carbon fiber is used for making higher-end tires. High-tensile polyester is used to make air balloons.

8.   Oekotech or Ecotech

Modern applications for textiles in environmental protection applications - floor sealing, erosion protection, air cleaning, water pollution prevention, water cleaning, waste treatment/recycling, land volume construction, product drainage, and domestic drainage plants.

9.   Packtech or packaging textiles

Packtech is used in packaging, silos, containers, bags, lashing straps, canvas covers, and marquee tents.

10.   Pro-tech or protective textiles

The main goal of technological protective clothing is to improve the safety of people in their workplaces. A portion of technological protective fabric can save a worker's life, so most of them are used to manufacture personal protective equipment. Demand for this specialty has grown significantly as a result of recent corporate scandals around the world. There are some companies around the world that describe the requirements and rules for filling any fabric considered a technical protective fabric. The purpose of technical protective fabrics is not fashion, they are designed to have extra value to protect them from certain dangers.

Nowadays it can be found in the market, technical fabrics which protect of:

a. High temperatures (insulating, firefighters),

b. burns (flame, convective and radiant heat, firefighters, ATEX area).

c. Electric arc flash discharge (plasma explosion, Electric companies)

d. molten metal impacts (foundries)

e. metal sparks (welding)

f. acid environment (petrochemical, gas, refineries, chemical)

h. bullet impact (military, security)

i. cut resistant (gloves, glass industry)

j. astronaut's suits

k. Leftover food packets, Paid banks, etc.

These fabrics are made of different kinds of fibers:

a. Meta-Para aramids – Nomex: high resistance, tear, tensile strength, expensive,

b. Wool viscose polyamide – marlin: repellency of molten metal, heat insulation, transparency.

c. Glass fiber - High resistance, insulating.

d. Modacrylic cotton – electric arc flash protection, comfort, flame-resistant, multi-norm, efficient, skin-friendly, antistatic.

e. Polyamide – Kevlar: extreme resistance, low aging.

11. Sportech or Sports textiles

Shoes, sports equipment, flying and sailing sports, climbing, angling, cycling, winter, and summer sports, and indoor sports can vary from anything including sports bags.

12.    Conveyor belts

Technical textiles are used in conveyor belts for industrial applications and power transmission. The carcass is a piece of fabric inside the conveyor belt, which is responsible for the strength and stretching properties of the belt. This body is bound together with layers of woven fabric.

13.     Electronics in textiles

It is rumored that textiles will soon be integrated with electronics in all fields. Wearable computers will be introduced in the future, they will not be like advanced wristwatches, etc. They will have ICS in the fabric to develop fabric keyboards and other wearable computing devices. This type of product is known as Interactive Electronic Textile (IET). Research is being conducted in many universities to support the development of IET. Growing consumer interest in mobile, electronic devices will start to demand IET products.

Conclusion

Textiles are used in many sectors nowadays. Technical textile is a part of those.

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