Role of

NANO-TECHNOLOGY
In The Field Of Textiles
By: Dr. Prashansa
Sharma
Assistant Professor
Department of Home-Science,
Mahila Mahavidyalaya,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
 CONTENT OUTLINE

1. Nanotechnology
2. Potential application of Nanotechnology in textile sector
3. Nano structures used in textiles
4. Nanotechnology in Fibre and Yarn
5. Nanotechnology in Fabric (Coating)
6. E -Textiles
 Nanotechnology
The American physicist and Nobel Prize laureate Richard Feynman introduce the concept of
nanotechnology in 1959.
The prefix ‘nano’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘dwarf’ or something very small and
depicts one thousand millionth of a meter, i.e. Nanoscale: 1nm=10-9 m
The technology that deals with the study of structures and molecules on the scales of
nanometres ranging between 1 and 100 nm in practical applications is called nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology encompasses nanoscale science, engineering, and technology in fields such as chemistry,
biology, physics, materials science, and engineering. Nanotechnology research and development involves
imaging, measuring, modelling, and manipulating matter between approximately 1–100 nanometres.

Nanotechnology involves engineering on a small scale to create smaller , cheaper, lighter, and faster
devices that can do more things with less raw materials.
Nanomaterial

Units in nanometers (nm): 1nm = 10-9 m

 Why Nanotechnology ?
o Nanotechnology is not simply working at ever-smaller dimensions; rather, working at
the nanoscale enables scientists to understand and utilize the unique physical,
chemical, mechanical, and optical properties of materials that occur at this scale.
o Nanoscale materials have far larger surface area-to-volume ratio than bulk materials.
The unique, size-dependent properties of nanomaterials have been exploited in a
diverse range of applications and in many examples of nano-enabled consumer
products.
o Nanomaterials also are being used to develop affordable and easy-to-use products
for a broad range of applications .
o Nanotechnology is helping to considerably improve, even revolutionize, many
technology and industry sectors.
Source: https://www.nano.gov/
Nano finishing vs. Conventional finishing
Nano finishing Conventional finishing

• Make chemical bonding with fibers. • Coated on the fibers.

• Enhance durability and strength of • Decrease the strength of fiber.
the fiber.
• Wear away with time and on washing
• Does not wear away on washing.
• Very low abrasion resistance,
• Large abrasion resistance.
• Breathable
• Decrease in breathability.
• Colourfastness • Colour roughness
• Manufactured by using • manufactured by using various perfluoro
nanoparticles . aliphatic compounds and waxes
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325274489_Functional_finishing_and_coloration_of_textiles_with_nanomaterials
TEXTILE APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
 Nanotechnology has greatly contributed to major advances in textile sector. Many everyday
commercial products are currently on the market and in daily use that rely on nanoscale materials
and processes.
 Nanoscale materials has enable to develop washable, durable “smart fabrics” equipped with
flexible nanoscale sensors and electronics with capabilities for health monitoring, solar
energy capture, and energy harvesting through movement.
 Flexible, bendable, foldable, rollable, and stretchable electronics are reaching into various
sectors and are being integrated into a variety of products, including wearables.
 Other nanomaterials like graphene and cellulosic nanomaterials are being used for various
types of flexible electronics to enable wearable and “tattoo” sensors, photovoltaics that can
be sewn onto clothing, making flat, flexible, lightweight, non-brittle, highly efficient
electronics .
 Researchers have developed a nano fabric "paper towel" woven from tiny wires of
potassium manganese oxide that can absorb 20 times its weight in oil for clean-up
applications.
Source: Yetisen A, Qu H, Manbachi A, et.al. ACS Nano 2016, 10, 3042-3068.
 Water and Oil Repellence

• Water repellency can be imparted to textiles by forming nano whiskers,

that create lotus like effect on fabric, at the same time retaining
breathability of the fabric.
• Tio2 NPs are also utilized for this purpose.
• Silica (Sio2) nanoparticles in combination with water repelling agents can
also be utilized.
• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are coated on Cotton fabric to make it water
repellent as well as oil repellent.
• Nano-sphere structure is also used
 What is a Nano whisker?
A nanoscale structure that consists of brushes attached along a common spine.
Nano whiskers act like “the fuzz on a kiwi” and create a cushion of air around the fabric, causing the
liquid to bead up and roll off, making the fabric water and stain resistant.

Nano whiskers make the fabric dense, increasing the surface tension so drops of liquid can't soak
through fabric. However, liquid can still pass through the fabric, if pressure is applied .

whiskers give water and oil repellency, superior durability, breathable fabric, remains soft and natural
wrinkle resistance.
They are so small and so close together, they form a sort of barrier around each fiber of the cloth that
prevents liquids and other substances from even touching the actual fabric.
The nano fibers cannot be seen or felt on the cloth, so it feels as soft as any untreated cloth
 Value Addition due to Nano Whiskers…

 Water and oil

repellency
 Superior durability
 Breathable Fabric
 Wrinkle resistance
 odour resistance
 Procedure To Attach The Nano
whiskers To Fibers
Firstly the fabric is dipped in a tank of water full of
billions of these tiny Nano whisker structures.
Then heated to evaporate the water, causing the fabric
to bond to each cloth fiber.
The Nano whiskers form a permanent chemical bond
with the cylindrical cotton fibers.
Textile aesthetics, such as color and hand, are not
affected by this bonding process.
 What is Nano Sphere?

Nano Sphere impregnation involves a three-dimensional

surface structure with gel-forming additives, which repel
water and prevent dirt particles from attaching
themselves.

Once water droplets fall onto them, water droplets bead

up and, if the surface slopes slightly, will roll off. As a
result, the surfaces stay dry even during a heavy shower.
 Antistatic Properties

• Tio2 NPs, ZnO whiskers are used for imparting antistatic properties in
synthetic fibers.
• Ag NPs also found better in this direction as it decreased static charges of
Polyester fiber by 60-70%.
• Static charge usually builds up in synthetic fibers such as nylon and
polyester
Cellulosic fibers have higher moisture content to carry away static charges
• It was determined that nano-sized titanium dioxide, zinc oxide whiskers,
nano antimony-doped tin oxide and silane nano sol could impart anti-
static properties to synthetic fibers. because they are electrically
conductive materials.
 Antibacterial/Odour resistant

• As human body-odor molecules pass through

fabrics, open whisker ends "grab" and perform a
chemical neutralization reaction with odor-causing
acids Molecules are neutralized when they're bonded
to the fabric.

• Silver nanoparticles can also destroy the bacteria

and gives a odour resistant property.
 Wrinkle Resistant
• Heat breaks the bonds holding polymers in place
within the fibers of a fabric. so they can shift into
new positions.
• As the fabric cools, new bonds formed.
• Traditionally resin finish is applied to impart this
finish but it decrease strength, abrasion resistance,
and dyeability.
• TiO2 NPs with carboxylic acid as a catalyst, SiO2
NPs and maleic anhydrate as a catalyst are being
used.
Structures of Nanoparticles used in Textile industry

Nano
Nano Net
Wraps

Nano
Nano
Whisker
Pores
s
 What is Nano Net

Three dimensional nanostructure which covers the molecule

(synthetic fibers) completely.
It forms a spiral structure throughout the whole fabric.
The nano net completely covers the core fibres and inject linen
property in synthetic fibres i.e. the absorbency of linen in
polyester fibres.
It alters the synthetic fibres to give a feel of cotton and linen. It
absorbs the body moisture, dries quickly and gives cooling effect.
What is Nano Wrap ?

“Wrap nano sheet” wraps the fibres completely to cover it

and makes fabric strong and durable. It improves the colour
fastness, crease retention and static resistance.
 Value Addition due to Nano wraps

 Strength and Durability.

 Improvement in colourfastness.
 Crease retention.
 Static resistance.
 What is Nano Pores?

It covers the whole fabric and left nano size pore over the surface of fabrics.
Nanopores providing superior insulation in cold weather.
 Nano materials used in textile application

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-most-common-types-of-nanomaterials-used-in-textile-applications
23_fig2_325274489#:~:text=Functional%20finishing%20and%20coloration%20of%20textiles%20with%20nanomaterials
Source: Liu Q, Yan K, Chen J, et al. Aggregate.2021
 Different Nano particles
• Anti bacterial property, electrically conductive, anti odour ,
Silver nano particle anti mould property

Gold nano particle • Anti bacterial, anti inflammable, used for skin diseases

Copper nano particle • Anti-fungul property.

• Self cleaning , abrasion resistance, anti bacterial ,UV

Zinc oxide Protective

Titanium oxide • UV Protective, water and dirt repellency

 E-Textiles
Smart interactive textiles are material and structures that can sense and react to environment conditions or
stimuli such as those from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, megnatic or other source.

Trigger or stimuli The sensors provide a nerve system to detect signals

The Processor analyses and

evaluate the signal

The actuators act upon the detected

Response or Action and evaluated signals either directly
or from a central control unit
Application of Nano technology in Military
Science
 Military application in changing colour
according to the environment
 Bullet Proof light weight uniform
• The military has a vest for soldiers in combat where it is
directly connected with the Internet and computers so if a
soldier gets shot, information is given about where he was
shot and what kind of injury it is. It is communicated with a
physical computer in a hospital.
Active camouflage is the perfect concealment of an object from visual and
infrared detection by adaptively changing its colour in re-sponse to its
surroundings. Inspired by the remarkable abilities of the chameleon.

Electrochromic (EC)technology, which is based on the alteration of the

absorption/colour of materials in situ using electrochemically induced redox
reactions, has recently been shown to be able to emulate chameleon
camouflage functions with fast tuning of colour, natural appearance, and
low applied potential. Moreover, combining EC technology with
mechanically flexible substrate materials leads to EC devices which are
extremely flexible and wearable, and have great potential for use in a range
of applications.
 Wearables

• The market for so called ’Wearables electronics’ is growing rapidly. An example for such
wearables is an activity tracker which is able to monitor sport activities . This monitoring can
comprise e.g. the counting of steps, measurement of heartbeat or the logging of a jogging route
by global positioning system (GPS). Such monitoring devices are very popular due to the
resulting capability of collecting and analyzing information on the physical status as well as
training progress of the wearer. Wearing such activity trackers for example on the wrist might
however be uncomfortable during sport activities. The ’Textile-Integrated GPS Receiver’
overcomes this problem by integrating a GPS system into clothes.
 Another applications

Phase-change fabrics. responding to changing body

temperatures, These materials store, release or absorb heat as
they oscillate between solid and liquid form.
Bullet proof clothing

Shark-skin suit worn during world-record breaking Olympic

swimming championship. The suit, which includes a plasma
layer enhanced by nanotechnology to repel water molecules, is
designed to help the swimmer glide through the water
as electrical insulating fabrics.
 Risk Summary
There are two types of risks arises due to the use of nanotechnology

Ecological Risks

Health Risks
Due to the release of the particles, their toxicity, and the fate and transport of the particles during
wash and use.
For example, a nanosilver textile coating had to be registered with the EPA as a pesticide because of
the harmful effects of silver nanoparticles on biological organisms.

So before the use of nano particles in textiles there must be a great research on the properties which
can cause health and environmental risks.
Edited Book on