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reportNano-related textile products
10.4.2 Short description

In the previous chapter of this report it has been presented a brief overview of the impact of nanotechnology along the various steps of the textile value chain. The possibilities brought about by nanotechnologies open new perspectives in the textile sector offering unprecedented tools to answer market demands and stave competition but also to introduce discontinuous innovation capable of repositioning the industry and open new markets.

 The textiles products are usually referred to their end market and therefore we can talk   of clothing textiles, home/furnishing textiles and technical textiles. The first two account together for about 95% of the market while technical textiles, i.e. a variety of products and manufacturing techniques being developed primarily for their technical properties and performance rather than their appearance, have at the moment a relatively low role. Technical textiles, however, are expected to grow at high rate in the forthcoming future. They can find, in fact, application in a large variety of sectors such as, for example, agriculture, building, packaging, protection, environment, health care, so that technical textiles will progressively gain larger room both in terms of volume and value.

 The application of nanotechnology in the textile sector is still at an early stage, nevertheless there are already on the market products incorporating nanotechnology.  They are mostly related to the conventional garment and furnishing sectors, however, increasing attention, are getting the applications for high performance technical textiles, which on the short-medium term will be the main area of application for nanotechnologies, and especially in sectors where performances out weight costs, such as sport/outdoor or military textiles, medical textiles, niche high- fashion textiles. In the longer run, with the progress of the research and cost reduction, also the weight of clothing and furnishing will increase.

 Looking at the projected development between 2006 and 2012, nanotechnology is predicted to have a differentiated growth across the sectors in which it is expected to have application. In particular, the highest growth is forecasted in sports/outdoor textiles, followed by high performance technical textiles, medical textiles, military textiles, domestic (home) textiles and clothing textiles.

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