Section outline

  • Welcome to the "Technical Textiles: Construction and Testing" course.

    The course will help you to understand the different types of technical textiles and their use cases.

    Course materials are divided into three categories according to the three target groups:
    1. student trainees
    2. staff trainees
    3. teacher/researcher trainees

  • Technical textiles are fiber-based products used in applications other than apparel and home furnishing. The main purpose of a technical textile is its functionality, not it's aesthetics.

    Familiar examples are home / automotive filters, airbags, seat belts, parachutes, bulletproof vests, firefighter turnout suits, face masks, etc. In addition, there are many notable examples of inconspicuous use of textile products in tires, civil construction and geotechnical engineering. 

    The course aims at

    • addressing the current status and ways forward of different technical textile segments
    • assisting experts and students in the field on how technical textiles are fabricated and how their performance is tested
    • product design principles
    • understanding of applications, materials, and technologies relevant to the vast array of technical textile materials and products

    The learning outcomes of this course are
    Knowledge

    • understanding of the different types of technical textiles
    • knowledge of the use cases
    • knowledge of production methods and their differences compared to apparel
    • knowledge on the design of technical textiles
    • knowledge of techniques to evaluate technical textiles

    Skills

    • know where new textile techniques might be used
    • to design some selected technical textiles (braid, textiles for composite, ...)
    • to develop a DOE through software
    • to analyse with software test data to test if standards are met.

    Responsibilities / autonomy

    • apply a textile solution within the non-apparel sectors
    • setup a DOE within a company
    • certify typical technical textile performance: breathability, permeability, filtration capacity, strength, ...

  • Technical Textile is a textile product manufactured primarily for its performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic or decorative characteristics.

    Other names for technical textiles are:

    • Industrial textiles
    • Performance textiles
    • Functional textiles
    • Engineered textiles
    • High-Tech textiles
    • Flexible engineering materials
    • Technical textiles are used because they are stronger, or more elastic, or harder, or more breathable, ... . A very important aspect of these materials are hence their mechanical properties. To compare technical textiles, good understanding of these is required. 

      Furthermore, these textiles are used in end applications to perform a very specific function. Models are used to understand the impact of the technical textiles in engineering applications.

  • The most of the braided products are regular tubular braids – ropes, medical stents, sleeves, shoe laces, overbraided composites. Flat braids are used more int for decoration purposes, but for some technical applications, too. This course unit presents the principle construction of the tubular and flat braiding machines, the horn gear arrangements for these structures and the rules for setting the carrier occupation. The main yarn type interlacements (braid types) and their relation to the carrier occupation will be explained.

    The first unit consists of Worksheet with explanations of the pattern type and tasks for the students.

    The second unit provides links to two open access papers, where the theory for the design of the complex pattern  is provided.

    The third unit contains links to videos where the braided pattern, the machine arrangement and the use of the software is demonstrated step by step.

    For more detailed explanation is recommended the book Kyosev, Y., "Braiding technology for textiles


    • Nonwoven is a fabric made of fibres, that is consolidated in different ways. Nonwovens are all textile fabrics that are outside the weaving/knitting domain. Their properties are:

      • Lightweight
      • Soft
      • Good air permeability
      • Eco-friendly
      • Low Cost
      • Poor strength and durability
      • Sophisticated washing process

    • We refer to the knitting lesson for details on knitting and production processes. Here we give a small extension focussing on the use of knitted fabrics for Technical Textiles

    • Embroidery is a fast technique to augment fabrics, adding functionality of use for technical textiles.