Applications of Nanotechnology in Textiles and Cotton Nonwovens: A Review

Although the term nanotechnology is relatively new, the underlying technology is almost 100 years old when the terms such as “micro” and/or “sub-micro” were used in the introduction of extremely small particles of various polymers. Indeed, in the last decade or so, there have been numerous significant advancements in the field of nanotechnology, which are being utilized in the plethora of engineering and science applications. Because of its limitless potential in consumer-oriented applications, the textile industry is one of the premier and major beneficiaries of the advancements in nanotechnology. The cotton textile industry, being one of the largest consumer-supported industries worldwide, generally has a significant impact on a nation’s economy. Significant advancements in the application of nanotechnology to improve textile properties obviously offer a high economic benefit potential to the textile industry. It has been demonstrated in recent years that nanotechnology indeed can be effectively used in the areas of textile fiber science and technology to develop textile products of considerably improved attributes, such as fabric softness, durability, and “breathability,” Advanced performance characteristics, namely, water repellency, fire retardancy, antimicrobial resistance, etc., can also be efficiently developed by deploying advanced anotechnology. It is expected that exploration and enhancement of textile materials though nanotechnology may become a trillion dollar industry in the next decade, which will bring tremendous technological, economic and ecologic benefits to the textile consumers and producers alike.