Nanofiber Based Fabrics: Characteristics, Manufacture and Application
Ummul Rifa Khan
Dept. of Textile Science
NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
Abstract:
The topic I have been assigned for my report: Nanofiber based fabrics. The use of nanotechnology in the textile industry has increased rapidly due to its unique and valuable properties. The present status of nanotechnology use in textiles is reviewed, with an emphasis on improving various properties of textiles.
This report presents a brief overview on the manufacturing, properties, applications, products, price, colour and agents/dealers of the Nano fabrics we mentioned in the report which includes Pyrogel® XTE,Cryogel® Z, Space loft®, NanoSphere®, GORE-TEX®, NanoGLIDE™.
I have tried my best to provide valid information regarding all these fabrics.
1. Introduction:
Nano-technology is used in many industries like medical, defence and aviation. Functional and performance properties of Nano-textiles and technical textiles are totally different from traditional textiles. Most active areas of Nano textile research and development mainly depends on the technical textiles such as odour releasing textiles, self-cleaning fabrics, carbon nanotube for electronic textiles, bioactive wound bandages, conductive textiles, water and stain repellent textiles, ultra violet protective, shape memory polymers for intelligent textiles, photo catalytic textile coatings, and healing textiles etc.
1.1. Nano Fiber: 1.2. Definition:
Anything under 1 micron in diameter is a nanofiber. To put this in perspective, one nanometre is equivalent to one billionth of a meter, making nanofibers many orders of magnitude smaller than an average human hair.
Fig 1: Nanofibers
1.3. Manufacturing:
The sol-gel process is used to create gel-like solutions which can be applied to textiles as a liquid finish to create Nano fabric. When Nano engineered coatings are applied to fabrics, the nanoparticles readily form bonds with the fibers of the material. Fabrics treated with nanoparticle coatings during manufacturing produce materials that kill bacteria, eliminate moisture and odour and prevent static electricity.
2. PYROGEL® XTE: 2.1. Flexible Insulation for High-Temperature Applications:
Pyrogel XTE is the most effective high-temperature insulation material in the industrial market, typically 2-5 times thinner than other widely used insulation products. It is our easiest product ever to handle, store, and install.
Pyrogel XTE is used for a wide range of industrial applications encompassing project and maintenance work in refineries, petrochemical, and gas processing plants. Pyrogel XTE high-temperature insulation is versatile, efficient, durable, and more productive to install. Pyrogel XTE has demonstrated time-saving advantages in turnarounds across a range of applications, with its greatest benefit seen in vessels and large bore piping.
Pyrogel XTE is extremely hydrophobic and breathable. By keeping the underlying asset drier for longer, Pyrogel XTE offers world-class leading CUI (corrosion under insulation) defense.
Pyrogel XTE delivers industry-leading high thermal performance in a flexible, environmentally safe, and easy-to-use industrial insulation product.
2.2. Manufacturing:
Pyrogel® XT-E is a high-temperature insulation blanket that is formed of silica aerogel which possesses the lowest thermal conductivity of any known solid and reinforced with a non-woven, glass-fiber batting.
2.3. Physical Properties:
Thickness
0.20in (5mm) to 0.40in (10mm)
Material form
1500 ft2rolls or 850 ft2rolls or 80 ft2 rolls
Maxus Temp
1202º F (650º)
Density
12.5 lb/ft. (0.20g/cc)
Hydrophobic
Yes
2.4. General Characteristics Of Pyrogel® Insulation: 2.4.1. Superior Thermal Performance:
Up to five times better high-thermal performance than competing insulation products.
2.4.2. Reduced Thickness and Profile:
Equal thermal resistance at a fraction of the thickness. Maximize process infrastructure and resolve mechanical clashes.
2.4.3. Less Time and Labour to Install:
Pyrogel insulation is easily cut and conformed to complex shapes, tight curvatures, and spaces with restricted access. Pyrogel XTE supports more insulation coverage per man hour than traditional forms of insulation.
2.4.4. Reusable – Lower Lifetime Costs:
Pyrogel XTE is easily removed for inspection and maintenance and can be reused in original service, reducing downtime and eliminating the need to purchase replacement insulation at regular maintenance cycles.
2.4.5. Physically Robust and Impact Resistant:
Soft and flexible but with excellent spring back, Pyrogel XTE recovers its thermal performance even after compression events as high as 100 psi, protecting critical assets from compromise due to tool strikes, footfalls, lifting, and transportation.
2.4.6. Logistics Savings – Time and Money:
Reduced material volume, high packing density, and low scrap rates can reduce shipping volumes by a factor of five or more compared to rigid, pre-formed high-temperature insulation.
2.4.7. Simplified Inventory:
Unlike rigid pre-forms such as pipe cover or board, the same Pyrogel® XTE blanket can be kitted to fit any shape or design. Reduce the time and effort spent managing large numbers of SKU’s. Pyrogel XTE offers unrivalled versatility.
2.4.8. Hydrophobic yet Breathable:
Pyrogel® XTE repels liquid water but allows vapor to escape, thereby keeping pipe and equipment drier for longer. Pyrogel XTE supports unrivaled CUI defense, better process stability, and extends the life of your assets.
2.4.9. Environmentally Safe:
Aspen Aerogel’s high-temperature insulation is landfill disposable, shot-free, with no respirable fiber content. [1]
Fig 2: Pyrogel® XTE
2.5. Prices:
From: $7.76 per sq. ft.
2.6. Available Colour:
Maroon
2.7. Products:
Dusty; gloves, eye protection, and dust mask recommended for handling.
2.8. Agents and Dealers:
Aspen Aerogel
3. CRYOGEL®Z: 3.1. Flexible Cryogenic Insulation For Cold Work:
Cryogel® Z cryogenic insulation is used in below-ambient-temperature applications in the oil and gas processing industry (LNG, LPG, ethylene, etc.) and industrial appliances. Cryogel® Z has the lowest k-value of any widely used cryogenic insulation material, reducing thicknesses by 50%-80%. Cryogel® Z’s flexible blanket form, with a factory-applied vapor barrier, is both fast to install and durable, resulting in lower-cost, higher performing designs.
3.2. Manufacturing:
This product is composed of synthetic amorphous silica dioxide. Amorphous silica should not to be confused with crystalline silica. Epidemiological studies indicate low potential for adverse health effects from exposure to synthetic amorphous silica.
3.3. Composition:
3.4. Physical Properties:
3.5. General Characteristics of Cryogel®Z: 3.5.1. Superior Thermal Performance:
Up to five times better thermal performance than competing insulation products
3.5.2. Reduced Thickness and Profile:
Equal thermal resistance at a fraction of the thickness
3.5.3. Less Time and Labor to Install:
Cryogel® Z insulation is easily cut and conformed to complex shapes, tight curvatures, and spaces with restricted access
3.5.4. Zero Permeability Due to Integral Vapor Barrier:
Provides redundant moisture protection in an easy-to-install package.
3.5.5. Physically Robust and Impact Resistant:
Soft and flexible but with excellent spring back, Cryogel Z recovers its thermal performance even after compression events as high as 100 psi, protecting critical assets from compromise due to tool strikes, footfalls, lifting, and transportation.
3.5.6. Shipping and Warehousing Savings:
Reduced material volume, high packing density, and low scrap rates can reduce shipping volumes by a factor of five or more compared to rigid, pre-formed insulations.
3.5.7. Eliminates Contraction Joints:
Because it remains flexible even at cryogenic temperatures, Cryogel® Z cryogenic insulation eliminates the contraction joints used to prevent compressive failure in other insulation materials. [2]
3.6. Prices:
From: $6.25 per sq. ft.
3.7. Available Colour:
White
3.8. Products:
Product is dusty; gloves, eye protection, and dust mask recommended for handling.
3.9. Applications:
Applications for this unique product include industries such as LNG production and storage facilities. Cyrogel® can be foil scrim laminated on both sides or be purchased with a variety of specially formulated spray coatings on one or both sides.
3.10. Agents and Dealers:
Aspen Aerogel
4. SPACE LOFT®:
Space loft® is a flexible, nanoporous aerogel blanket insulation that reduces energy loss while conserving interior space in residential and commercial building applications.
Space loft’s unique properties – extremely low thermal conductivity, superior flexibility, compression resistance, hydrophobicity, and ease of use – make it essential for those seeking the ultimate in thermal protection.
Using patented nanotechnology, Space loft® insulation combines a silica aerogel with reinforcing fibers to deliver industry-leading thermal performance in an easy-to-handle and environmentally safe product. Space loft® is a proven, effective insulator in building applications, providing the highest R-value of any insulation material for maximum energy efficiency in walls, floors, roofs, framing, and windows.
4.1. Manufacturing:
This product is composed of synthetic amorphous silica dioxide. Amorphous silica should not to be confused with crystalline silica. Epidemiological studies indicate low potential for adverse health effects from exposure to synthetic amorphous silica.
4.2. Physical Properties:
4.3. General Characteristics of Spaceloft: 4.3.1. Superior Thermal Performance:
Up to five times better thermal performance than competing insulation products.
4.3.2. Reduced Thickness and Profile:
Equal thermal resistance at a fraction of the thickness.
4.3.3. Less Time and Labor to Install:
Easily cut and comformed to complex shapes, tight curvatures, and spaces with restricted access.
4.3.4. Physically Robust:
Soft and flexible but with excellent spring back, Space loft® recovers its thermal performance even after compression events as high as 50 psi.
4.3.5. Shipping and Warehousing Savings:
Reduced material volume, high packing density, and low scrap rates can reduce logistics costs by a factor of five or more compared to rigid, preformed insulations.
4.3.6. Simplified Inventory:
Unlike rigid pre-forms such as pipe cover or board, the same Spaceloft® blanket can be kitted to fit any shape or design.
4.3.7. Hydrophobic yet Breathable:
Spaceloft® repels liquid water but allows vapor to pass through.
4.3.8. Environmentally Safe:
Landfill disposable, shot-free, with no respirable fiber content.
4.4. Prices:
From: $7.25 per sq. ft.
4.5. Available Color:
White
4.6. Agents and Dealers:
Aspen Aerogel
Fig 3: Spaceloft®
5. Nanosphere®: [4]
The leaves of certain plants always stay clean, because dirt cannot adhere to their finely-structured surfaces and is easily washed off by rain.
This natural non-stick and cleaning process, also known as the self-cleaning effect, is permanently transferred to the textile surface by means of nanotechnology. The result is NanoSpherean ecologically clean textile finish, developed in accordance with the bluesign® standard.
The blue sign standard guarantees the highest possible exclusion of substances which are harmful to humans or the environment and promotes the economical use of resources in manufacturing.
The nanoparticles in the NanoSphere® finish form a fine structure on the textile surface (see illustration). Water or substances such as oil or ketchup simply run off the NanoSphere® surface, any residue can easily be rinsed off with a little water.
Textiles with NanoSphere require less frequent washing and can be washed at lower temperatures. This protects the environment and the fabric. The function of NanoSphere® is retained even after numerous washing or cleaning cycles.
Fig 4: NanoSphere®
5.1. Manufacturing:
Nanosphere impregnation involves a three- dimensional surface structure with gel-forming additives which repel water and prevent dirt particles from attaching themselves. The mechanism is similar to lotus effect occurring in nature.
A hydrophobic property can be imparted to a fabric by coating it with a thin nanoparticle plasma film. For imparting antibacterial properties, nanosized silver, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are used.
5.2. Prices:
£9.99
5.3. Common Available Colour:
Royal blue, black, grey, cream
5.4. Agents and Dealers:
Schoeller Technology
6. GORE-TEX®:
Gore-Tex is a synthetic fabric membrane used in clothing, shoes and other products. It is created from a special polymer that makes Gore-Tex waterproof while still allowing air and water vapor to pass through.
Gore-Tex was co-invented by Wilbert L. Gore and Gore’s son, Robert W. Gore. In 1969, Bob Gore stretched heated rods of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and created expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). His discovery of the right conditions for stretching PTFE was a happy accident, born partly of frustration. Instead of slowly stretching the heated material, he applied a sudden, accelerating yank. The solid PTFE unexpectedly stretched about 800%, forming a microporous structure that was about 70% air. It was introduced to the public under the trademark Gore-Tex. [5]
6.1. Manufacturing:
Teflon® is the trade name for a polymer called polytetrafluoroethene, or PTFE. It is very slippery, so is used to make non-stick coatings for pans. It is also used in Gore-Tex®.
Gore-Tex® contains layers of nylon, PTFE and polyurethane. The PTFE contains a lot of tiny holes called pores. The membrane contains over 9 billion microscopic pores which are approximately 20,000 times smaller than a drop of water, but 700 times bigger than a molecule of moisture vapor. Without the nylon, the layers would be too fragile to be useful.[6]
Fig 5: Gore-Tex®
6.2. Properties of the Gore-Tex® Fabrics:
Waterproof
Breathable
Windproof
Lightweight
Heat resistance [7]
6.3. Prices:
2-Layer Gore-Tex® Waterproof Breathable Nylon Ripstop Camouflage Fabric: $28.99 per Linear Yard
3-Layer Gore-Tex® Laminate Waterproof Breathable Nylon Fabric: $24.99 per Linear Yard
4-Layer Gore-Tex-Patagonia – Olive: $24.99 per Linear Yard [9]
6.4. Available Color:
Pantone
6.5. Products:
Footwear (shoes, boots)
Gloves and Accessories
Outerwear (Jackets, pants)
6.6. Use And Application Of Gore-Tex® Fabrics:
Gore-Tex materials are typically based on thermo-mechanically expanded PTFE and other fluoropolymer products. They are used in a wide variety of applications such as:
High-performance fabrics
Medical implants
Filter media insulation for wires and cables
Gaskets and sealants.
However, Gore-Tex fabric is best known for its use in protective, yet breathable, rainwear. [10]
6.7. Agents and Dealers:
Orbit Fashions is the manufacturer and supplier of Goretex clothing and outwear.
7. NanoGlide™:
It is developed by Next Fiber Technology, NanoGLIDE is a Permanent PTFE Patented Technology for performance apparel and socks.
7.1. Manufacturing:
NanoGlide involves the incorporation of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) into polyester or nylon fibers during the fiber manufacturing process. All of the reported benefits from the PTFE additive — a high ultraviolet rating; as well as moisture, friction, heat, and abrasion management to improve wearer comfort —are permanently embedded in the fiber and will not wear or wash out when laundered by conventional means. NanoGLIDE Technology can be used on both knit and woven fabrics. [11]
7.2. Properties: 7.2.1. Comfort:
NanoGLIDE™ fabrics provide beneficial “tactile aesthetics”; to include
Better fabric hand,
Softer fabrics and
Superior fabric loft.
7.2.2. UV Protection:
It is protective against sunlight.
7.2.3. Moisture:
PTFE is extremely hydrophobic; thus wicking will occur very fast (as drying); but it will also be high performing for not “wetting out”. Because PTFE is very hydrophobic; NanoGLIDE® will conquer wicking, wetting out and moisture management; at maximum speed.
7.2.4. Heat:
Heat Management is the ability of a fabric to allow the skin surface to cool. NanoGLIDE® will yield a cooler product on the skins surface by eliminating abrasion and friction.
7.2.5. Friction & Abrasion Management:
PTFE’s coefficient of Friction is 0.1 or less, which is the second lowest of any known solid material known to mankind; meaning our products offer maximum abrasion control; and eliminates friction. [12]
7.3. Products:
NanoGlide is usually used in the making of socks and other apparel.
53% NanoGlide nylon, 42% Nylon, 4% Lycra
Made in US
Great for: Running, Hiking, Speed Hiking
Fig 6: NanoGlide
7.4. Prices:
$14.99 – $16.99 [13]
7.5. Color:
NanoGLIDE® fibers are natural or “white” in color; thus our fiber or fabrics can be easily adjusted for seasonal color changes in apparel.
7.6. Agents and Dealers:
Manufacturer and partner of next fiber technology llc, for all nanoglide™ products o’mara, inc
8. Conclusion:
Properties imparted to textile materials using nanotechnology have been highlighted in this report. As mentioned, nanotechnology overcomes the limitations of applying conventional methods to impart certain properties to textile materials. There is no doubt that in the next few years, nanotechnology will penetrate into every area of textile industry.
Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. Mr. Kiron is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.
