Wool was being used in clothing as early as the stone age, probably the first animal fiber to be spin and made into cloth.

Due to unique properties of wool it’s called as “Natures Miracle”. Wool is being used by the apparel industry for last many years & now a day’s its increasingly being used in technical applications. To utilize wool in technical textiles requires application such that it can exploit the natural attributes of wool and control over cost.

Because of the use of wool fibre into new high value technical market & developing innovative products, global demand for wool products is increasing.

This paper focuses on different attributes of wool fibre for new future applications in technical textiles.

Wool is the most complex and versatile of all textile fibres. It can be used to make products as diverse as cloth for billiard tables to the finest woven and knitted fabrics. The insulating and moisture absorbing properties of the fibre make fine wool products extremely comfortable to wear. The chemical composition of wool enables it to be easily dyed to shades ranging from pastels to full, rich colours. So it is called wool: “Natures Wonder Fibre”

Upholstery

Both wool and wool blend fabrics are used in upholstery due to its good retention appearance, excellent durability, natural flame resistance and aesthetic characteristics. For residential wool items, no additional flame retardant finish applied. While commercial wool upholstery fabric may undergo flame retardant treatment.

Industrial Uses

Wool is important in making felts, which help to decrease noise or for variety uses. Wool is also used to clean up oil spills. Another application is the wool mulch mats for landscape and horticultural weed control.

This article comes from textiletoday edit released

Technical textiles or functional textiles, considered a sunrise sector in the country, is all set for demand taking off for products such as geo and agro textiles.

“Technical textiles is a thrust area for the Government because of the value addition involved,” said Textile Commissioner Kavita Gupta. “It can be used in infastructure projects, including ports, roads, and railways, and in sectors such as agriculture. We want to promote use of textile products that will improve productivity, health standards, and infrastructure,” she said.

Geo textiles, for example, are permeable fabrics that are used in association with soil and which have the ability to separate and filter, while agro-textiles are used in shading and in weed and insect control.

In an effort to increase use of technical textiles in Government projects, she said, “We are trying to promote interface with other ministries. The Textiles Minister has spoken to four ministers so far and will be speaking to more.” Union Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani has spoken to Agriculture, Urban Development, Health, and Surface Transport ministers and is expected to have discussions with defence, railways, and heavy industries ministers too.

The aim is to create awareness, promote use of technical textile products, then ensure the usage is mandated in at least some areas. “Development and use of products have to go up. Simultaneously, standards are being created,” she said.

Functional textiles can be woven or non-woven. Automobile, geo, medical, industrial, and agro textiles are among the range of products that are made in the country. Foreign Direct Investments are also coming in, especially for geo textiles. There are a large number of units that are into production of items such as non-woven carry bags or wipes too.

The Textile Commissioner said that the number of larger industries involved in the manufacture of various technical textile products is estimated to be about 2,500. Close to 1,000 of these have received Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme support.

Industrial textiles (such as filtration fabric) and made-ups (home textiles) have taken off. “Geo (textiles used in road works) and agro textiles will [also] take off. Smart textiles (sensor embedded textiles) is another potential area,” she said.

According to K.S. Sundararaman, vice-chairman of Indian Technical Textile Association, technical textiles is a fragmented sector with several small and medium-scale industries manufacturing specialised products. “It is difficult to give a definite number on the number of units, production, etc. But, a majority of them are in the SME sector,” he said.

The main challenges for technical textiles in the country are awareness among consumers, need for technology and knowledge about it among entrepreneurs, the investments and time needed to be innovative and develop applications, and raw material availability.

“China is a generation ahead in production of technical textiles. But, their costs are going up and this is an opportunity for India,” he said. The Government should select and support entrepreneurs to be sent abroad to learn about technical textiles, he suggested.

This article comes from thehindu edit released

Technical textiles are textile products manufactured for non-aesthetic purposes. They are used for automotive applications, medical usages, crop protection, protective clothing etc. Textile technical means textile materials ad products manufactured primarily for their technical and performance properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.

Why Move on to Technical Textiles ?

The traditional textiles are becoming more and more competitive and will have to face tough competition in exports from China and asian countries.Obviously many companies producing traditional textiles have to continuously struggle to survive in a highly competitive global market. In these circumstances, textile manufacturers need to consider some emerging factors and redefine their strategies for production and marketing.

Basic requirements of Technical Textiles

Technical Textile markets are usually more application specific and demanding altogether different types of production strategies.The strict adherence to the product specification and quality standards are the prime requirements to enter in this field. Usually, there is a need for special dialogue between the producers and the users. The user needs products with specific performance and functional requirement. Therefore , the producers must peep into requirements and translate the same in the products to the satisfaction of the users.

This article comes from textileschool edit released