Giant Leap of Textiles in “The Science of Small”

Abstract

Background: All fields of textile are constantly varying. Variations occur as life styles change or at times these are caused by ever evolving processing mannerism or as government standards for safety, environmental protection, and quality and energy conservation change. The turn of century has witnessed the stern focus of textile industry on scientific and technological advancement, initially this industry was not recognized and it survived as art and craft in early centuries until eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when world was witnessing industrial revolution it had focus upon mechanization and mass production. All over the world the products of textile industry are massively utilized.

Aim of the Study: There is a pressing need for an initiative to improve, to facilitate and to accelerate the development and adaptation of the textiles and clothing industries. For the satisfaction of various new customer demands this industry is struggling to employ technology for the enhancement of textiles to fulfill, adapt and adjust to the cravings of change. "The science of small" has emerged as an interdisciplinary science; here knowledge is shared for the extension of nano scale limits by many electronic and material mechanical engineers, physicist, scientist, chemists and biologists.

Methodology: This review article attempts to descriptively connect the various potentials of the nano scale in the textile sector especially with a textile designer perspective. This is an effort to compose a meta review to understand the new dimensions of textile sector that highlights the activities and contributions in this emerging new domain of nano scale.

Findings & Conclusion: Today by the term nanotechnology a vast arena of knowledge is meant that encompass exploration of technologies for miniaturized processes and structures. Research in this area is not only focused on cost efficiency in use of chemicals but focus is also towards reformulation of some new technology and ultimately developing a work rout that saves manufacture resources like human resource, time and water. All this has resulted in the development of nano fibers, nano compositions, nano polymers and nano finishes in field of textiles. This paper intends to summarize the current expansion of nanotechnology for production of textile products.