Sustainable Solutions in Technical Textiles: Reducing Environmental Impact

Technical textiles are designed for specific functional purposes, require energy-intensive processes and often involve the use of non-biodegradable materials. Hence, the disposal of these textiles can contribute to waste accumulation and pollution. To overcome these challenges, it is essential to shift to sustainable textile solutions.

This shift has been made possible by an increase in the use of man-made fibres. Why has the use of man-made fibres increased? This blog explores the details to help you understand them better.

Advantages of Man-Made Fibres Over Natural Fibres

While both natural and manmade fibres have their unique properties, manmade fibres offer several advantages over natural fibres in the realm of technical textiles.

Strength and Durability:

Manmade fibres are known for their exceptional strength and durability. They can withstand high levels of stress and strain, making them ideal for applications that require robust and long-lasting materials.

Versatility:

Manmade fibres offer a wide range of options in terms of properties, such as flame resistance, UV resistance, and electrical conductivity. Manufacturers can tailor these fibres to suit specific technical textile applications, expanding their versatility.

Uniformity:

Manmade fibres are produced through controlled manufacturing processes, ensuring uniformity in their properties. This uniformity is essential for the technical performance of the textiles, as it ensures consistent performance across various applications.

Resistance to Chemicals and Moisture:

Unlike natural fibres, which can be susceptible to damage from chemicals and moisture, manmade fibres have a higher resistance to these elements. This property is particularly advantageous in industries where textiles are exposed to harsh environments or chemicals.

There are many man-made fibres available, but the one that has made its way the most into technical textiles is the glass fibre.

Glass Fibre as a Sustainable Textile Solution

Glass fibres are widely used in the textile industry due to their various properties, the most important being their non-dependence on petroleum.

Glass fibres are the only man-made fibre that doesn't require any non-renewable source for its production. It is produced by extruding tiny silica-based or other glass strands into many fibres with tiny diameters suited for textile processing. This makes it a more sustainable choice, reducing the environmental impact associated with resource extraction and land use. The other properties of glass fibres include:

Strength:

Glass fibre is the perfect material for technical textiles due to its robust and long-lasting qualities. The strongest fibres are those that are the newest and thinnest because they are more ductile. In comparison to carbon fibre, glass can elongate further before breaking. Thinner filaments have a greater range of bends before breaking.

Energy-efficient:

Glass fibre is made by melting silica and extruding the molten material into fibres. The fabrics made from these fibres are then used to make technical textiles. Even though the melting process needs energy, the overall process often uses less energy than the production of other man-made fibres like polyester or nylon. Additionally, industries are using technology to make the process more energy-efficient.

Cost-efficient:

Being an inorganic fibre, glass fibres exclude the money needed to extract resources or grow the crop, as in the case of natural fibres. The durability and longer lifespan of glass fibres make them last longer, thus reducing costs. There is a reduced need for frequent repairs and replacements, which can create significant savings for manufacturers and industries.

Recyclability:

Glass fibres can be recycled indefinitely without any loss of quality. When products made from glass fibres reach the end of their life cycle, they can be collected, melted, and reprocessed to create new glass fibre products, reducing waste and conserving resources.

Versatility:

Glass fibres have a wide range of uses due to their special characteristics. They are used in different industries such as construction, medical, etc. The technical textile industry extensively utilises glass fibres due to their exceptional properties.

Some key applications include:

Reinforcements:

Glass fibres are commonly used as reinforcements in composite materials, such as fibreglass. They significantly enhance the strength and rigidity of composites, making them vital in manufacturing lightweight yet strong components for the aerospace, automotive, and marine industries.

Insulation:

Glass fibre-based materials are widely used for thermal and acoustic insulation in buildings and industrial equipment. Their excellent heat resistance and sound-absorbing properties make them effective for energy conservation and noise reduction.

Electrical Applications:

Glass fibres with high electrical insulation properties are utilised in electrical cables, circuit boards, and electronic components. They help to transmit signals effectively while maintaining electrical safety.

Protective Clothing:

Glass fibres are used in manufacturing high-performance protective clothing, such as fire-resistant suits and heat-resistant gloves. The non-combustible nature of glass fibres ensures increased safety for workers in hazardous environments.

The drive towards sustainable textile solutions in the textile industry is gaining momentum, as the industry recognizes the need to minimise its environmental impact. Therefore, Supertech Fabrics is following the minimal-waste policy by embracing eco-friendly raw materials, innovative manufacturing processes, circular economy principles, and eco-friendly finishes, the industry can pave the way for a more sustainable future, reducing waste, pollution, and resource consumption.