NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN

HIGH PERFORMANCE TEXTILE FINISHING

R.B.CHAVANDepartment of Textile Technology

Indian Institute of TechnologyHauz-Khas, New Delhi 110016

Emerging technologies

• Information technology

• Bio technology

• Nano technology

Second industrial revolution

Nano technology

• Nano

• Greek word Nanos meaning

• Dwarf abnormally small

• 1nm is 1 billionth of meter 10-9m.

• nanotechnology usually refers to the region of 1 to 100 nanometers.

Nano meter

Nano particle

Properties

• Dramatic change in properties of a substance when

particle size reduced to nanometer range

• Properties different than those of bulk material

• Normal ceramic particle Brittle

• Nano cramic particle Deformable, flexible

• Normal Gold Yellow

• Nano gold Red

Nano particle

• Small amount of nano species can interfere with matrix polymer bringing up the performance of the resultant system to unprecedented level

• This property of nano particles is explored in imparting high performance finishes to textiles

Nano particle

• Nano technology has made a small beginning in textiles industry in the form of

• high performance fibres and

• high performance finishing of textiles.

• As research progresses more and more potential advantages of nano technology will be revealed in

diversified applications in textiles.

Country Investment Programme PartnersUSA $3.7 billion National

Nanotechnology Initiative

government laboratories, universities and private companies.

Japan $750million ¥120 trillion in 2010

Germany, €110 million ‘Nanonet research institutes, industries and SMEs collaborate.

Switzerland TOPNano21

Investments

Country Investment Programme

UK £290million Centre in microsystems and nanotechnology

India nanotechnology mission. Confederation of Indian industries, Central manufacturing technology Institute, Banglore and Ministry of Commerce

Investments

Nano finishing of textiles Active organizations

Country Organization USA DuPont , Nanotex,

Nycol

Japan Nishibo, Toray, Kanebo, Teijin

Switzerland Ciba speciaity, Schoeller Textiles AG

Hong Kong Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon

Commercially available technologies

Organization Technology DuPont Stain repellent

Schoeller Textiles AG Stain repellent

Nishibo Antimicrobial, Deodorant

Ciba speciaity Thermal comfort,Fragrance

Nano Tex Easy care

Toray, Kanebo Hydrophilic finishes

Teijin Luminescence fibres

Hong Kong Polytechnic Self cleansing Nycol Flame retardant

Du Pont • Teflon® Stain Protection • durable fluorochemical finish based on nano

emulsion

• It forms an invisible shield around each fiber.

• Conventional stain resistance products are merely a surface coatings.

• Teflon® works on the nano scale that is, on the molecular level to protect each fiber in fabrics

Du Pont

• Applications

• Apparels

• home furnishings, and

• other textile segments.

Du Pont

Zonyl® /Oleophobol® refers to a range of fluorochemical products manufactured by DuPont and marketed by Ciba to textile mills.

Stain release during washing

Comparison of Fluoochemical and Silicone

based finishes

• Teflon® provides the advantage of unmatched resistance to both oil- and water-based stains.

• In contrast, many stain-protective treatments applied to fabrics today are hydrocarbon based, and are only water repellent.

Comparison of Fluoochemical and Silicone based finishes

Application

• The fabric is padded and dried.

• During drying water evaporates.

• During subsequent curing operation the polymers melt and spread and fluorocarbon side chains are oriented away from the surface.

Application

• Proper drying and curing • • Assures formation of invisible shield around each

fiber.

• Ensures optimal durability and bonding between the finish and the fabric.

• Also cures other components that may be in the pad bath, such as wrinkle-free derivatives

Fixation mechanism

Schoeller Textiles AG Switzerland

• Nanosphere

• water-repellent,

• dirt-repellent,

• anti-adhesive and

• self-cleaning finishing to textiles

• available since the beginning of 2001.

Nanosphere

• Principle

• Certain plant leaves, beetle shells and insect wings always stay clean

• Water or dirt find difficulty to stick to their infinitesimal rough, structured surfaces,

• letting even the lightest rainfall clean the surface.

Nanosphere

• Schoeller was able to emulate this principle through years of exhaustive research and the advent of nano-technology.

• formation of a micro-rough, three-dimensional surface structure, from which water and dirt particles effortlessly and quickly roll off.

• Substances like ketchup, honey, red wine and blood are simply repelled or rinsed off with water quickly and effortlessly.

Lotus leaf structure

Microstructure surface Natural wax 100 nm

Sliding drop Rolling drop

Water drop on lotus leafHoney on Nanosphere finished fabric

Features• The water repellent function of

NanoSphere® treated materials is considerably higher compared existing methods.

• Breathability is not affected

• there is considerable improvement in abrasion resistance.

• The finish is resistance to repeated washing.

Features

• Easy stain removal

• reduced Water and detergent consumption leading to a lower environmental impact

• • Meets the bluesign® Environment standard.

Application areas• outdoor, leisure and sports clothing,

• business suits

• protective clothing

• home furnishing • • medical applications.

Nisshinbo Industries Japan

• Antibacterial and Deodorant finishes based on nanotechnology

• Giocot : Industrial work wear

• Ag Fresh: Apparel

Gaicot

• It is an inorganic zeolite/cotton complex

• Zeolite is a crystalline mineral consisting of aluminum, silicon and sodium with many micropores,.

• Very efficient adsorbent used for

Gaicot

• removal of odor, and harmful gasses, preservation of food

• In contrast to the traditional method of fixing zeolite on the fiber surface using a binder (fixing agent),

• Nisshinbo has created a Zeolite/cotton complex by penetration of nano size zeolite within the interior of fiber (cellulose molecules) during finishing application

Zeolite-cotton complex

Properties

• Absorption of unpleasant odors of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, trimethylamine and methyl mercaptan.

• The capacity for absorbing ammonia gas is twice that of active carbon.

Properties

• Safe in terms of

• oral toxicity,

• fish toxicity and

• skin sensitizing properties

'Ag fresh' • The anti-bacterial properties of silver are

scientifically recognized

• Nisshinbo has incorporated silver particles in a minute size of around 4nm into fiber through the use of the latest nanotechnology

• A material of superior antibacterial, deodorant properties with good laundering fastness has been brought about by letting silver particles penetrate into the fiber itself.

'Ag fresh'

• The 'Ag fresh' antibacterial, deodorant finish has been developed for use mainly in

• garments worn close to the skin,

• Further applications of this technology are being planned for use in uniforms, casual wear, shirts, bedding, nightwear, underwear, polo shirts and handkerchiefs.

Ag nanoparticle penetration in fibre

Ag Fresh Application

• Bedding,

• uniforms and industrial materials.

• Further expansion is planned into the field of

• nursing care goods and bedding for the elderly,

• medical uniforms,

• filters for air conditioners and water purifiers.

Nano Tex

Trade name Function

Nano-Care Next generation carefree finishing

Nano-Pel Highly durable water-and-oil repellent finishing

Nano-Dry Durable hydrophilic finishing of synthetics

Nano-Touch Combination of synthetic and cotton features

Nano Press Durable press 100% cotton

Finish Fibre suitability

Functions End use

Nano Care Cellulosic Wrinkle resistance, water and stain repellent

All Cotton wear

Nano Pel Cellulosic, wool, silk, PET, NY, Acrylic, blends

Water and oil repellent

Interior furnishing, Bed linen, home clothing

Nano Dry PET, NY, Acrylic

Hydrophilic finish

Synthetic sports wear, under garments

Nano Tex Finishes

Durability of all Nano Tex finishes 50 home launderings

Finish Fibre suitability

Functions End use

Nano Touch Synthetics Cellulose wrapping on synthetics

Wrapping on PET microfibres to produce highly twisted Georgette, Crepe de chine, Chiffon Silk substitute.

Wrapping on acrylic to produce light weight hydrophilic sweater

Nano Tex Finishes

Finish Fibre suitability

Functions End use

Nano Press 100% cotton

Durable press without loss in strength

Cotton trousers and shirts

Nano Tex Finishes

Commercialization

74 patents

Lincensed to 40 Textile mills world wide

25 License agreements leading apparel and interior furnishings brands, Includes Levi, Gap, Old Navy, Lee, Nike, Champion, Marks & Spencer and Simmons.

Nano-Tex finished products are sold throughout North America and in select locations in the United Kingdom

Several South East Asian mills have joined in mass production of thick Nano-Care cotton fabrics.

Commercialization

Several cotton and synthetic manufacturers in China, South Korea and Taiwan have recently joined and started commercial production of Nano-Dry and Nano-Pel. Nano-Touch and Nano-Care

International textile management consulting (ITMC) agency in Japan has recently started promotion of nanotex finished fabrics on an exclusive basis

IndiaArvind mills and Ashima have recently acquired license for nanotex technology

Brand name strategy

affixation of a Nano-Tex tag on every piece of fabric and garment produced through licensed technologies to promote recognition of their particular advantages among consumers.

This is similar to the leading semiconductor manufacturer Intel Corporation, US, with the sticker 'Intel inside' on every computer containing its chips for worldwide brand recognition.

At present, operations are facilitated with no direct royalty payments, which are included in the price of finishing agents instead.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals

• Microencapsulation • Incorporation of desirable chemicals in the

textiles through nano capsules• controlled release of • Fragrances • biocides • antifungals • Odour absorbing chemical

Brand name • ‘Freshness you can wear”

Temperature regulation to textiles

• Ciba Specialty Chemicals is introducing Ciba® ENCAPSULENCE® PC140 (Phase change material)

• Ciba® ENCAPSULENCE® PC140 represents a radical shift from traditional trapped-air insulation

• The new textile treatment offers a high degree of temperature regulation,

• resulting in a very consistent level of thermal comfort.

• these capsules work interactively with the wearer's body.

Temperature regulation to textiles

Ciba Specialty Chemicals is introducing Ciba® ENCAPSULENCE® PC140 (Phase change material

Ciba® ENCAPSULENCE® PC140 represents a radical shift from traditional trapped-air insulation

The new textile treatment offers a high degree of temperature regulation,

resulting in a very consistent level of thermal comfort

these capsules work interactively with the wearer's body.

Temperature regulation to textiles

• Phase change materials absorb, store or release heat as they cycle between solid and liquid forms.

• Heat can be liberated on cooling and absorbed on heating.

• During physical activity, the wearer's excessive body heat increases and is absorbed by the encapsulated phase change materials.

Temperature regulation to textiles

• As activity ceases, the body cools and the microcapsule returns the stored heat back to the wearer.

• The phase change material is permanently entrapped in the fibre in its micro particle form meaning that the effect it offers is not diminished through use.

• Outlast Technologies Inc., hold technology licenses to sell temperature regulation compounds to the fibre & textile industry.

Kanebo Spinning Corp of Japan

• Has produced a polyester yarn with thirty times the ability of normal polyester to absorb moisture.

• The yarn, suitable for use in undergarments, has twenty nano layers for retaining moisture.

• The layers have a total thickness of fifty nanometres.

Toray Industries, Inc. of Japan

has developed a fabric containing bundles of ultra fine nanometre nylon threads that allow superior moisture absorption properties.

Teijin Fibres Ltd of Japan

• A polyester substrate is covered with approximately sixty nano layers of polyester and nylon that have different refractive indices for light.

• The layers, which are only approximately sixty-nine nanometres thick, refract the light to create a ‘mystical’ hue that changes according the viewpoint of the observer and the angle the light hits the fabric.

Self cleaning clothes

• scientists from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon

• invented an efficient way to coat cotton cloth

with tiny particles of titanium dioxide.

• These nanoparticles are catalysts that help break down carbon-based molecules,

• require only sunlight to trigger the reaction.

Self cleaning clothes

• The inventors believe that these fabrics could be made into self-cleaning clothes that tackle

• dirt,

• environmental pollutants and

• harmful microorganisms

Self cleaning clothes

• The titanium dioxide particles covering the fibres are 20 nm size

• Application method • padding cotton fabric with aqueous slurry of

nanosize titanium dioxide,

• drying and heating at 970C for 15 minutes.

• Then three hours boiling in water completes the coating process.( Nature Science Update,)

Flame retardants

• Nyacol Nano Technologies, Inc. • aqueous dispersions of nano-sized antimony

trioxide to be used with halogenated flame retardants

• Applications • textiles, • nonwovens,

• flame retardant coatings.

Flame retardants

• Advantages over Conventional Antimony Trioxide Systems

• Better penetration of the substrate. • Easier handling and processing. Liquid dispersions

will not clog spray guns. • Translucency for coatings, films and laminates. • Easy compounding; no special dispersing

equipment required. 

• High FR efficiency

A Nanosize particles Normal 0.03 micron size particles

Flame retardants

• Application • To 10 parts NYACOL 1550 or A1550 (supplied as

aqueous dispersions at pH 7), • add 40 parts water with sufficient ammonia to bring

the pH to 9, • mix the water and the A1550 or A1550, and add 50

parts PVC latex.• These ingredients are mixed, • sprayed onto the nonwoven material and heat cured. • Pad application for woven fabric is suggested

Conclusions

• Nano-Technology will bring second industrial revolution with wide range of applications in all areas of technology

• Textile application has just made beginning

with fascinating result and commercialization of few technologies

Conclusions

• Field is virgin for application in all areas of textile chemical processing and and production of new generation textile fibres for appaprel, home textiles and industrial textiles

• To continue trend more research contribution and collaboration with other disciplines is essential for bright future of textile industry

• Circumstances will make this to happen