14/Reports and Surveys 58 case. But antibacterial fabrics are used in many sectors (healthcare, for instance), sportswear, corporate clothing, and also urban apparel. Biocompatibility, biodegradation. Biopolymers are materials our bodies will not reject (they are bio-compatible), and at the same time, they may be degradable or permanent. These belong to the generation of fibres obtained from hi-tech materials, and are mostly used for medical and healthcare purposes. This range of functions (though not exhaustive) also includes protection, though this article will not elaborate on this. It is obvious that technical fabrics then will protect against heat and fire, mechanical impact, chemical or electrical hazards, among others. Finishes lending “personality” Technical fabrics may always be improved by means of finishing treatments, which in turn will improve performance and lend personality to products/clothes. In terms of finishes, Joaquín Detrell states, “they can modify or improve superficial properties, or the physical properties of non-dyed fabrics. Some technical fabrics are finished by means of mechanical (calendaring, napping, etc.) or thermal processes (thermo- fixing, etc.), to lend specific properties to fabrics. Stiffening products (by impregnation) are often not necessary though sometimes they do lend fabrics an additional property. The most widely used for technical fabrics will include flameproof, stain-repellant, antimicrobial finishes. Flame-retardant treatment of cotton or wool fibres, and finishes that will make fabrics hydro- repellant, are usually applied for protective purposes, but also for apparel in general, among many other applications. These finishes will improve or preserve the inherent properties of fibres. For instance, water- repellant finishes will protect fibres resisting water, oil or fluid penetration, and thus preserve their natural properties”. Coatings. Coating is an alternative, among finishing treatments, that will make fabrics behave in a different way, and will also affect the structure for the fabric will be covered with a substance that turns its structure into basically a two-layered fabric, i.e. base and coating. This might be defined as covering textiles (woven, non-woven, mesh) on one or both sides, with a resin, or a protective or insulating material. Membranes that are micro-porous, hydrophilic or both at the same time, and applied onto the inner side of fabrics, will result in fabrics with breathable and waterproof properties, both interesting to sportswear, image wear and personal protective clothing. Consumption-production of technical textiles Within a context of sustained growth and favourable trends, the 16,714 million tons of technical use sold worldwide (year 2000, see chart) represent about 12% of all textile materials used, with some noticeable differences from country to country. Detrell points out that “the average consumption of technical textiles in the European Community is about 20%”. However, distribution among European countries is far from homogeneous. Germany represented 32% of the total consumption of technical textiles in 2009, followed by France with 29%, Italy with 22%, UK and Benelux with 21%, Spain with 18% and Portugal with 14%. This is also reflected in the number of companies fully or partly dedicated to the technical textile sectors: 480 in Ger many, 410 in France, 360 in Italy, 240 in Spain and 190 in the UK. The number of Spanish companies manufacturing semi-finished or finished textiles (figure 1.5) regarded as a part of the technical textile sector, is 240. Of these, nearly 75% are located in Catalonia and the Community of Valencia. Of those companies, about 42% offer exclusively technical textiles while the About “Textile innovation and technical use textiles” report The study was carried out within the framework of the project: “Specific activities to empower the innovating potential and competitiveness of member companies of Agrupació d’Empresses Innovadores Téxtiles”, developed by this Group since May of 2010. One of the activities involved the publication of this study on the part of AEI, exclusively addressing member companies. The project was co-sponsored by DGPYME (Dirección General de Política de la PYME – Small and Medium-size Companies Policies Agency) of the Industry, Tourism and Commerce Ministry, and by the Feder regional development European Fund. The introduction to this comprehensive review of technical textiles, by Joaquín Detrell and Ariadna Detrell, points out that the report “does not seek to be more than an introduction to the possibilities in terms of technological innovation and textile products, to meet old, new and potential needs emerging from the evolution of industry and service sectors that may be addressed by such innovation and products”.