Nanotechnology can be used to develop textiles with desired characteristics at the molecular level, including high tensile strength, durability, breathability, and antimicrobial properties. There are three main types of nanotechnology used in textiles: in fibers and yarns, in coatings, and in e-textiles. Nanofibers smaller than 100 nm can be produced through electrospinning and provide benefits such as strength, softness, and wrinkle resistance. Nanoparticles added to fibers or coatings can impart properties like water and stain resistance. E-textiles embed electronics like batteries and lights in fabrics. Overall, nanotechnology offers opportunities to economically enhance textile properties and performance but also environmental challenges if not
2. What is Nanotechnology?
• Nanotechnology (NT) deals with materials
1 to 100 nm in length.
• At the National Nanotechnology
Initiative(NNI), NT is defined as the
understanding, manipulation and control of
matter at the above-stated length, such that the
physical, chemical, and biological properties of
the materials can be engineered, synthesized
and altered to develop the next generation
improved materials, devices, structures, and
systems.
3. Nanotechnology at the molecular level can be
used to develop desired textile characteristics :
1. High Tensile Strength
2. Unique Surface Structure
3. Soft Hand / Fabric Softness
4. Durability
5. Breathability
6. Water Repellency
7. Fire Retardancy
8. Antimicrobial Properties etc.
4. 3 types of nanotechnology in textiles can be
distinguished:
▪️Nanotechnology in fibres and yarns (fabrics)
▪️Nanotechnology in coatings (textile finishing)
▪️E-textiles
5. What is a Nanofiber?
●A nanofiber is a continuous fiber that has a
diameter in the range of billionths of a meter.
●The smallest nanofibers made today are
between 1.5 to 1.75 nanometers.
6. Most nanofibers are made by a process called electrospinning,
in which a polymer (plastic) solution is spun at very high speeds
and exposed to electrostatic forces, pulling the polymers into
extremely thin fibers.
It's the polymer solution that will determine the ultimate
properties of the nanofiber.
a) Diagram of a general set-up of electrospinning.
b) Taylor cone from which jet of polymer solution is ejected
Synthesis Method of Nanofibre :
7. What is Nanoparticles?
● A nanoparticle or ultrafine particle is usually defined as a
particle of matter that is between 1 and 100 nanometres (nm)
in diameter.
● Nano-particles have a large surface area-to-volume ratio
and high surface energy
● Nanoparticles can be introduced in the textile production
process at two levels :
1) during the melt extrusion of yarns : nanoparticles
based on clay, metal oxides or carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
can be mixed in the polymer before the extrusion
step.This allows new functionalities to be incorporated.
2) during fabric coating : Nanoparticles used in fabric
coating will not affect the breathability and hand feel of
the fabric.
Nanoparticles of silica incorporated into the weave of a fabric or sprayed onto its surface
create a coating that repels water and stain-producing liquids.
8. Different structures of Nano Particles :
Nanowhiskers are a type of crystal nanofiber with a diameter of less
than 100nm and the ratio between their length and their diameter is
greater than 100.
Value addition due to Nano Whiskers:
(1) Water and oil repellency (2) Superior durability (3) Breathable
(4) Fabric remains soft, natural (5) Wrinkle resistancy
NANO WHISKERS
9. Value addition due to Nano Net:
•Alters the property of synthetic fibers like Polyester to give a feel of
cotton & linen.
•Wicks body moisture fast
•Dries quickly & gives the cooling effect.
Nano Net can inject Linen Property into a synthetic fiber!
10. NANO WRAP
● Nano sheet wraps the fiber completely to cover it & alter its
property
Value addition due to Nano Wrap:
● Strength & Durability.
● Improvement in colorfastness.
● Crease Retention.
● Static Resistance.
● Enhancement in wash fastness.
Figure(a): Normal fabric trouser with out nano wrap on
the fibers after 50 washes
Figure(b): Trouser made up fabric with nano wrap fibers after
50 washes
11. nanofibers and polymer solutions of nanoparticles
are being used in a variety of ways:
• to make fabrics resistant to water or liquids,
which is useful in upholstery, sports, etc
• to create heat-resistant fabrics for uses in fire
fighter's suits and construction.
• to kill bacteria, giving it major applications in the
medical fields. Some innovators have even
proposed creating bacteria-resistant clothing for
daily wear.
12. Progress Towards the Fabric Finishing by using Nanotechnology
● Fabric finish-ing has taken new routes and demonstrated a great potential for significant
improvements by applications of NT.
● NT provides plenty of efficient tools and techniques to produce desirable fabric attributes, mainly by
engineered modifications of the fabric surface. For example, the prevention of fluid wetting towards
the development of water-or stain-resistant fabrics has always been of great concern in textile
manufacturing.
● by altering the micro and nano-scale surface features on a fabric surface, a more robust control of
wetting behavior can be attained. Such an alteration in the fabric’s surface properties is capable of
exhibiting the “Lotus-Effect,” which demonstrates the natural hydrophobic behavior of a leaf surface.
● Uses of Nanofibres and Nanoparticles in textile finishing imparts differential characteristics onto
fabric.
Figure (I) Figure (II)
Figure (I) Lotus-Effect on a leaf surface
Figure (II) Lotus-Effect on nano-finished
fabric surface
13. E-Textiles:
● Electronic textiles or e-textiles (often confounded with smart textiles) are fabrics
that enable digital components such as a battery and a light (including small
computers), and electronics to be embedded in them.
● Electrically conductive textiles are already used for years in various industrial
application fields for the purpose of controlling static and electromagnetic
interference shielding. Nowadays, textiles are modified to offer a good electrical
conductivity to be applied in smart textiles.
● Smart/interactive textiles (SIT) are materials and structures that sense and react
to environmental conditions or stimuli, such as those from mechanical, thermal,
chemical, electrical, magnetic or other sources
● Numerous approaches have been investigated to yield electrically conductive
fabrics,including metallized textiles, conductive polymer-based textiles, and
composite nanoparticle coatings,for e-textiles. Among such fabrics is nanocarbon-
based conductive textiles. The integration of graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs),
and carbon nano/micro fibers (CNFs) with textiles is worthmentioning
Graphene Regular carbon nanofibers
Rotating single-walled zigzag carbon
nanotube
14. Application of nanotechnology in e-textiles
Figure 1 depicts ideas of applications of
nanotechnology in e-textiles. Recently, Du
et al. reported on a highly washable e-textile
fabricated by ultrasonically nanosoldering
carbon nanotubes onto polymer fibers.They
reported that their fabricated CNT e-textiles
fabrics have good washability. The CNTs
remain onthe fiber surface even after
forceful mechanical washing in water for
several hours, and the conductance of the
textile slightly reduces
Figure 2 depicts Digital images of a textile-
based wearable user-interface device which
contains five poly(3,4-
ethylenedioxythiophene)/polyester
PEDOT/PS strain sensors, stainless steel
fiberinterconnections, a voltage divider
configuration, a battery, and a wireless
transmission unit.
16. Conclusion
The application of nanotechnology is growing day by day in different
fields including the textile industries. There is a considerable
potential for profitable applications of nanotechnology in the textile
industries. Its application can economically extend the properties
and values of textile processing and products. However, qualities
that make a product more useful at the nanoscale could also make it
more toxic, or more bioavailable. Nano waste may come as biggest
environmental issue in this time of global warming. As maximum
smart clothing may contain electronic device which must causes
adverse effect on environment. If pure nanomaterials are
manufactured or there is the mass use of materials finished with
nano particles, then the recycling systems may be upgraded to keep
pace with these technological developments. Nano technology brings
opportunities and challenges for textile industries which can make
this huge market more profitable and expanded. There is no doubt
that in the next few years, nanotechnology will penetrate into every
area of textile industry.