Technical textile industry is new and growing sector in India. It generates good revenue for the country. This industry is rich with many natural and synthetic fibres. All these fibres are useful in different ways. Synthetic fibres are made from doing some special chemical processes on natural fibres or obtained directly from chemicals. These fibres have greater qualities than simple man made fibres so it is widely used in the industry not only for the apparel use but is used in other various applications also. Some synthetic fibres are Acetate, Rayon, Nylon, Polyester, Acrylic, Olefin, PLA and Modacrylic and some fibres with special properties are Saran, Vinalon, Vinyon, Spandex, Modal, Sulphar, Twaron, Kevlar, Nomex, PBI, Loycell, M5, Zylon, Dyneema/Spectra, Vectran, Glass fibre, Metalic fibre and Acrolynite. In this article we are covering the major five fibres used in the technical textile industry. The properties, applications and leading manufacturers of these fibres are also covered. These fibres are listed below.

1. Polyethylene
2. Polyester
3. Nylon
4. Carbon
5. Polypropylene

Polyethylene

Introduction:

Polyethylene is a polymer. Many no. of ethylene monomers join with each in the synthesis of polyethylene polymer. Polyethylene is obtained by the polymerization of ethane. Cationic coordination polymerization, anionic addition polymerization, radical polymerization and ion polymerization are the different methods by which polyethylene can be produced. Every method gives different types of polyethylene. Mechanical properties of Polyethylene depend on the molecular weight, crystal grouping and branching. Some properties are as follows:

Properties:

• Very good ultra violet resistance
• Excellent electrical and chemical resistance
• Low moisture absorption level
• Very good abrasion resistance
• Low specific gravity
• Higher energy is needed to break because of specific modulus and high specific strength

Application of polyethylene

• Medical implants
• Cable and marine ropes
• Sail cloth
• Composites like Pressure vessel boat hulls, sports equipment, impact shields
• Fish netting
• Concrete reinforcement
• Protective clothing
• Can be used in radar protective cover because of its low dielectric constant
• Can be used as a lining material of a pond which collects evaporation of water and containment from industrial plants
• Useful in geotextile applications

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Polyethylene Manufacturers

•Reliance Industries Ltd.
•Fiber Group, Inc.
•Fibra S/A
•Steen & Co. GmbH
•Kemex BV

Polyester

Introduction:

Polyester is a polymer with ester functional group as a main chain. This is also known by other name Terylene. It is available in many forms but commonly it is used as PET (polyethylene terephthalate).Other forms which are known are polycarbonate and plant cuticles or cutin. Polyesters are easily flammables on high temperatures. Due to its wrinkle resistance capacity it is widely spun together with other natural fibres. Liquid crystalline polymers have high heat resistance capacity so it is used in jet engines as an abradable seal. Its one wide spread application in the medical field is for making of heart valves. Some properties of Polyester are given below:

Properties:

•Wrinkle resistance
•Heat resistance
•Good mechanical properties
•Polymerization and cross linking is possible
•Thixotropic properties
•Azeotrophe esterification is possible
•Alcoholic transesterification is possible
•Thermoplastic qualities
•Combustible at high temperatures
•Thermosetting property
•Cross linking and polymerization is possible through exothermic reactions

Application of Polyester:

•Widely used in apparels
•Fiberfill is used in cushion padding, comforters and in stuff pillows
•Woven polyester fabric is used in home furnishing
•Medical Implants
•In jet engines as abradable seal
•Spun together with natural fibres to give strength
•Useful in making of films and bottles
•Also useful in holograms, liquid crystal displays, filters and tarpaulin
•Useful in insulating tapes, film insulation for wire and dielectric film for capacitors
•In auto-body fillers, casting materials and fibreglass laminating resins (because of thermosetting property)
•Useful in finishing of high quality wooden products

Polyester Manufacturers

•Reliance Industries
•Indo Rama
•Futura Polyester
•Celanese AG
•Du Pont
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Nylon Fibre

Introduction:

A manufactured fibre in which the fibre forming substance is a long-chain synthetic polyamide in which less than 85% of the amide-linkages are attached directly (-CO-NH-) to two aliphatic groups. This is the definition of Nylon fibre by Federal Trade Commissions. The properties of Nylon fibre are as follows:

Properties:

•Dries quickly
•Easy to launder
•Strong and elastic
•Responsive to heat setting and resilient
•Retains its shape
•Polyamide 6 nylon6 PA-6 has thermoplastic property
•Lower mould shrinkage
•Good fatigue resistance

Application of Nylon Fibre:

•Used in hosiery
•Useful in making of swimwear, windbreakers, draperies, bedspreads, shorts track pants and active wear
•Also use in parachutes
•Useful in making of combat uniforms, flak vests, tires and life vests
•Nylon 6/6 is used in rollers, gears, nut and bolts, cams, bearings, electrical connectors, coil formers, kitchen utensils, combs, fuel tanks of cars and power tool housings
•Nylon 6/10 is useful in electrical components like bobbins, coil formers, tubing and wire jacketing

Nylon Manufacturers

•American Falcon, Inc.
•Alpha Flock (India) Pvt. Ltd.
•Domatex (AUS)Pty Ltd
•Fiber-Line, Inc.
•Altex Limited

Carbon fibre

Introduction:

Carbon fibre is a well known textile material. In this graphite crystalline structures are arranged in a manner that it gives fibrous material. Carbon fibre is also available by oil/coal pitch after giving them certain heat treatment. It is broadly divided into the categories like, PAN-based carbon fibre, Pitch based carbon fibre, Mesophase pitch based carbon fibre, isotropic pitch based carbon fibre, Rayon-based carbon fibres and gas-phase-based carbon fibres. The properties of carbon fibre are as follows:
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Properties:

•Physical strength
•Specific toughness
•Light weight
•High dimensional stability
•Low coefficient of thermal expansion
•Low abrasion
•Good vibration strength, damping and toughness
•Biological inertness and x-ray permeability
•Chemical inertness
•High corrosion resistance
•Fatigue resistance, self-lubrication, high damping
•Electrical conductivity
•Electromagnetic properties

Application of Carbon Fibre:

•Sporting goods, aerospace, marine and road transport
•Pickup arms, audio equipment, robot arms, Hi-fi equipment and loudspeakers
•Medical applications in x-ray and surgery equipment, ligament and tendon repair and in implants
•Nuclear field, chemical industry, pumps, seals, valves and its components in process plants
•Textile machinery, genera engineering
•Radiological equipment
•Large generator retaining rings
•Novel tooling, brushes, automobile hoods casings and bases for electronic equipments
•EMI and RF shielding
•Missiles, aircraft brakes, aerospace antenna and support structure,
•Large telescopes, waveguides for stable high-frequency (GHz) precision measurement frames and optical benches

Carbon fibre Manufacturers

•Ocean Power Fibre Co. Ltd.
•CiXi Aiflon Sealing Materials Co. Ltd.
•East Midlands Composites Ltd
•Acordis

Polypropylene

Introduction:

Polypropylene is a polymer made from addition of many propylene monomers. It has good resistant capacity to many acids, bases and chemical solvents. Its melting point is 160 �C (320 �F) so it is used in plastic materials for medical laboratories as an autoclave. Thin sheets of polypropylene are also used in dielectrics. Some properties of Polypropylene are given below:

Properties:

•Thermoplastic property
•Good strength
•Good environmental resistance
•Low density, hence light weight
•Good toughness
•Ability to be remoulded
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Application of Polypropylene Fibre:

•Textile industry
•Good impact properties even at low temperatures and slightly increased elongation at break
•Extruded pipes, automotive like battery cases and bumpers, blow moulded containers
•Boat bodies, blow moulded medical articles and seat shells.
•Automotive Industry (load floors, valve covers, under engine covers, seat frames, front ends, battery trays, bumper beams, load floors and rocker panels)
•Aerospace Industry (overhead storage compartments and fuselage wall linings, fasteners, helicopter fairings, missile and aircraft stabilizer fins, engine housings, ducting, panels and wing ribs)
•Construction Industry (Thermosplastic composites for lightweight structural, pipes insulating panels, structural profiles and concrete rebars)
•Materials Handling (cargo containers and pallets)

Prolypropylene fibre manufacturers

•Intercontinental Polymers, Inc
•PFE Engineering Limited
•Dan River Inc.
•Altex Limited
•Trevos Kostalov s.r.o.

References:

http://library.thinkquest.org
http://web.utk.edu
http://fibersource.com
www.wikipedia.com
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