12/Reports and Surveys 58 Technical textiles: innovative, highly functional products, increasingly sold For lack of a more orthodox definition we can say that technical textiles or fabrics is a subsector known as innovative, contributing high functionality – exactly what markets demand – and that they are increasingly sold. Now, were we to rely on the more orthodox view, we would then say that technical textiles are fabrics for technical use. This issue of JobWear magazine offers an introduction, in swift brushstrokes, about those fabrics for technical use, and to do so we will rely on the knowledge and expertise of Joaquín Detrell, founding partner of Tecnitex Ingenieros, S.L. The ID of technical textiles Strictly speaking, even the humblest of fabrics is technical. So, why shouldn’t we use a more suitable name? “From the broadest, most inclusive point of view, we can say that within the general concept of fabrics for technical use, or technical textiles, we include all technical products that would not be included within the traditional sectors of clothing, home textiles and décor, or better yet: all technical products created with an eye on functionality rather than on esthetics. In any case, the essential ideal to identify textiles for technical use and all products derived from them will never be strictly related to semantics and definitions, but to the ability to innovate, in order to meet the widest possible range of needs. This is possible, on the one hand, because there are now many textile materials specifically designed for those purposes, and also because manufacturing and finishing systems have evolved. But also because of the development of engineering, for textile projected products”, states Ariadna Detrell, Cluster Manager, AEI Tèxtils de Catalunya. Technical textiles: general trends Some of the trends, general and shared, of technical textiles are: Dynamics: in terms of product development, to meet new requirements or to replace materials with similar functions. Multiple possibilities when selecting materials, structures, product engineering and adaptation to various uses. Slow but ongoing process to replace conventional materials with new ones which are more expensive but offer improved properties, and very especially, through the use of new technologies in the textile sector in general, for technical use (microfibers, new breathable finishes, monomer graft techniques, etc). From the perspective of innovation, ongoing development of new fibres, or improved fibres, new combinations and processing of existing materials, the creation of new styles, or designs, and the more and more widespread application of textiles to industrial and servicing sectors. These have been the factors promoting the evolution of textile industries over the past few decades, and have shown to contribute strength to European companies, improving their competitiveness in global markets. Improvements made to fibres significantly influence choices in subsequent stages of the production chain, in terms of product properties and performance. Fibres that behave in a “smart” way, in response to external factors such as temperature variations, humidity, chemicals and bacteria, light and radiation, fire, electricity or mechanical impact, will allow for the production of functional or smart clothes for sports and leisure, but also for workwear and protective clothing, both representing market shares that continue to grow. Fibres and textiles that will conduct electricity or light will store energy, information, and then receive or communicate radio waves. This opens a new market niche for smart clothes with sensors that will be used to control, alert, inform, relax or entertain users. Fibres and textiles with improved performance in terms of resistance, weight, chemical resistance, protection against temperature, flames, dust, water, etc., with noise-abatement or biodegradable properties, will also be ideal for a great variety of industry sectors, and this includes workwear. Functionality, adaptation to use Technical textiles have this “hook” of offering exceptional performance. This means they are functional. End consumers want products – whether textile or other – that meet needs in terms of functionality or adaptation to intended use. And by analyzing and studying these needs, the industrial sectors will choose materials and structures that will suitably meet them. There are some shared functions consumers require, and technical textiles meet those needs: Mechanical What is mostly expected of fibres is resistance (usually to traction), and some elasticity (shape recovery), in addition to a contribution to strength in other materials with which a given fabric is combined. Mechanical resistance: fibres used for technical purposes, due to their chemical nature and the manufacturing process involved, will better resist traction and so, they compete with conventional materials and exceed them in terms of performance. This means that these fibres will be used whenever mechanical resistance depends, basically, on fibre performance. Elasticity. Virtually all textile structures (mesh or weave, etc) may include elastic thread, and this will make fabric stretch so that clothes will adapt to the shape of the body and allow for comfortable, free movement. But also, clothes will recover their shape after washing. There are