It was a change of time and mindset which brought covers on the human body. But it was an innovation of technology which brought textiles in the human life. Textiles today affect so many parts of human lives- right from direct uses like clothing to house furnishings, vehicle and office set up, bandages and dressings to several other areas where they have an indirect use. The functional as well as aesthetic values of textiles are both equally important for the consumer and hence offer tremendous potential for improvement and innovations. The growing global fashion trends pose real challenges for the players in the sector for finding something new continuously. The amount of money spent by an average household on textiles and apparels being substantial, having a cutting edge in this area makes a great business sense for each player involved.
Unlike other areas, the challenges of textile sector are more related to the increase of comfort, newer dimensions and value addition rather than addressing the basic needs. The preference for natural fibers over the artificial ones is increasing. Clothing made of natural fibers are more prone to problems like color fading, wrinkling challenge, difficulty in removal of stains. Moreover, life becoming faster than ever, these issues are no longer non issues. Nanotechnology has answers for each of these problematic issues. More interesting is the fact that advent of nanotechnology has opened up a whole new vista of value-addition possibilities in the textile sector. A lot of imaginations are now turning into doable activities bordering the reality with the help of nanotech- cloth that would repair the holes itself, clothing that do not require washing, that won't catch fire, that would protect the wearer from bacteria and ultraviolet rays and many many more. The present research in nano science and the endeavors through applications of nanotechnology and the emerging trends give a strong hope that in future Nanotechnology applications are leading us to clothes that become part of our life like a TV set or a refrigerator. For example we will have clothes that would use the body heat for electronic operations; textiles that will have the revolutionary ability to sense, act, store, emit, and move! And all this as permanent accessories to our body and personality.
India is a major exporter of cotton textiles and also man made fibres. Nanotechnology applications for smart textiles are therefore very pertinent for the Indian market. Gujarat, the region where SAiNSCE is based, is also a major exporter of denim as well as manufacturer of synthetic clothing. The traditional handloom cloth also have a niche market among the Indian diaspora as well as foreigners. This core strength blended with various nanotechnology enabled features offers immense market potential. SAiNSCE has identified niche markets and specialty products for which it is doing the complete value chain networking.
Body odour in clothes
Materials that take away sweat and make the clothing free of body odour has been developed using nanotech
Adding metal nano particles enables anti odour functioning in the cloth
The conventional stain free coatings make the cloth stiff and fuzzy and are washed away over a period of time. Nanotechnology applications enable making such material that develop chemical bond with the fibres and the cloth remains smooth as other cloth; the liquid falling on cloth just rolls off leaving the cloth stain free
Adding metal and semiconductor nano particles give the cloth glittering long lasting colours and wrinkle resistance besides high end features like protection against UV rays and anti microbial function
Nanofibres render strength and durability which delays the wear and tear substantially
Futuristic products
"Smart" Nano materials that could do some of the things living things do, such as heal breaks and wounds, or change color or shape for protection in response to what's going on around them
Right now you can buy jackets with disc players and controls sewn in but they are quite bulky and messy. Nanotechnology would give a new dimension to this segment of wearable electronics with production of a new generation of garments with distributed sensors and electronic function. They will go far beyond just very small electronic devices or wearable, flexible computers
Not only will these Nanotechnology devices be embedded in textile substrates but a nano electronics device or system could ultimately become the fabric itself
Nanotechnology application would lead to textiles with bio monitoring commands that will heat or cool its wearer and change color as per the surroundings
Nanotechnology based smart clothes would remotely monitor home-bound patients capturing vital data and then beaming it wirelessly to a doctor, a hospital, a family member or wherever it needs to go
And the best part is that the above e-textiles and smart nano textile would allow leveraging an existing low-cost textile manufacturing infrastructure
Textiles made by attaching nano layers to natural fibers can control what passes through the layer. These layers can be customized for different chemicals such that hazardous gases and chemicals can be blocked while still allowing air and moisture to pass through
Novel nanoscale fibers can be placed inside a garment or paper document to serve as a "fingerprint" that proves the product is genuine. The fibers can essentially serve as molecular bar codes
Garments treated with metallic nanoparticles prevent colds and flu
Electro-statically charged nanoparticles and nano silver protects the wearer from smog and air pollution
Nano textile is a field where sky is the limit. It is also a field where commercial applications of nanotechnology are easier. In fact, many are already on board, lending confidence in nanotechnology. SAiNSCE, keeping abreast of the latest in the field of nano science applications and nanotechnology, futuristic fashion trends and functional requirements, has identified niche markets and specialty products for which it is doing the complete value chain networking. SAiNSCE is also tying up with a number of companies to market Nanotechnology devices and products which can be used in the textiles sector to achieve what the modern textiles should look like. SAiNSCE is also tying up for developing nano enabled garments to suit the market and fashion industry.
Indian market itself has diverse fashion trends and functional requirements owing to various weather conditions and a conjunction of traditional and modern choices. SAiNSCE will eventually narrow down on a range of niche nano enabled textiles products, mainly with a focus on giving better products to the society like increasing durability in terms of all parameters, anti infection clothing, low cost attractive fashion clothing and many more. SAiNSCE is based in Gujarat, India which is a cotton growing region. It will focus on nano enabled cotton garments. It also plans to produce and market super specialty products like nano enabled organic cotton garments designed for the Indian Diaspora. SAiNSCE will strive to use nanotechnology for producing low cost value added good quality clothing for the people.