The importance of the textiles in our lives is increasing with the developments in the field of technical textiles. Because of the fact that the technical textiles are durable and lightweight, they are used in many fields such as military and agriculture. Making statements for our Magazine Group, Assoc. Dr. Yasemin Korkmaz, Head of the Department of Textile Engineering in Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, drew attention to the production of smart textiles.
Stating that there are lots of important developments in terms of textile technology, Mrs Korkmaz said that "As a result of multidisciplinary studies conducted, the textile sector has started to produce more high-tech products. Therefore, nonwovens and technical textiles are products that make our lives easier. For example, the increasing demand for disposable products ensures the growth of the nonwovens market. With the changes of the classical techniques in agriculture, the spread of cultivation in greenhouses as well as using heat and water carefully in the modern greenhouses have become possible with the technical textiles.”
Electronics and Textiles
“Smart textiles provide to produce materials which can change the appearance and form of the textile surface according to changing environmental conditions as well as which is in communication with the environment; on the other hand, more effective results are obtained with nanotechnology by using less chemicals" said Mrs. Korkmaz and continued her speech as follows: "For example, the heat-responsive textile surfaces, which are dyed with photo-chromic dyes that can change colour with heat, are produced. The heat flow direction can be changed through the phase change materials. The electronic exciters came into use with textiles. The electronic exciters came into use with textiles. American army continues its studies about the development of its military uniforms which will be used for communicating as well as determining light, heat, and sound. In accordance with the purpose of technical textiles, the high-performance features are expected. For example, the antibacterial properties are standing out for a medical product while the water absorption capability is also expected. For a protective clothing, it is expected that strength properties will be excellent as well as the thermal transport properties. As understood, it is required, that the process including weaving, finishing and apparel as well as the characteristics of fabrics must be carefully planned.”
Environmental Awareness Has Increased
Stating that increased environmental awareness has formed the production in the field of textile, Mrs. Korkmaz said that they aim at providing the concept of productivity which is accepted as the most significant parameter in the production process and minimizing the damages for people and environment. Smart textile production does not mean only smart final product but also it refers to the smart production process. The carbon emissions and the amount of waste water have been taken into consideration when the production is planned in developed countries. It is clear that our country will be in this type of process.
Expressing that Turkey has recorded an export volume of $ 1.6 billion in 2012 in the field of technical textiles, Mrs. Korkmaz added that: "In 2013, the export volumes in this sector increased by 11 percent compared to the year 2012 and amounted to approximately $ 1.8 billion. As for the import figures, the technical textiles import volume of Turkey is over $ 1.5 billion as in 2013. China ranks first among our major suppliers of technical textiles, and after China, we see Germany and Italy. In 2012, Chine met 30 per cent of our imports, this figure increased by 35 percent in 2013 and the imports made from China to Turkey increased by 7 percent compared to the year 2012. As for the rates of imports on the basis of product which are mostly imported, the figures as follows:12.3 per cent for nonwoven fabric, 10.8 percent for glass fibres and wool, 9.6 per cent for impregnated-coated plastic fabric, 8.1 percent for airbag parts used in land vehicles and 7.8 for plastic-rubber coated-impregnated fibre apparel goods.
A New Textile Policy
Stating that Turkish companies' investments for R&D have been increased, Mrs. Korkmaz emphasized that the fact that the engineers working in these units produce the project provides university-industry collaboration which has been desired for many years. In recent years, significant works conducted on nano-fibres and composite structures are remarkable. In addition, several important studies have been done on the issues related to the production of carbon fibre with medical textiles. I hope that these studies will continue with an increasing momentum. In our country, the production of technical textiles includes impregnated nonwoven textiles as the most powerful product group. Turkey ranks second after China in the production and exportation of this product group. There are also resistant sacks, called as Bigbag, plastic impregnated-coated fabric and bags and sacks produced from polyethylene and poliropil etc. for packing. There is generally a volumetric size. Research to be conducted in the fields of medical textiles which require a higher amount of experience and high-resistance fibres can only be developed by using basic science disciplines in addition to the engineering disciplines. The lack of a strong chemistry sector in our country makes the textile industry be dependent on the foreign sources. We are foreign-dependent in terms of high-performance fibres. In order not to allow for the transformation of the textile factories which had previously become the practice laboratory of the textile machinery manufacturers into the places where the technical textiles designed in foreign countries are only manufactured, the necessary precautions should be taken as soon as possible by the state and pioneers of the Turkish textile sector.”
Turkish Textile Research Fund
Turkish Textile Research Fund says that prolonging human life and increase in the needs to be cleaned easily increased the demand in the disposable hygienic products. Based on the emphasis on the holiness of the human life, an increase in the demands in medical textiles and protective textiles was observed. Stating that: “Due to earthquakes and landslides, geotextiles, transportation textiles, hygienic and medical technical textiles, textile-reinforced composites, high-performance fibres, smart textiles, protective clothes, building and construction technical textiles and agricultural technical textiles are the fields where growths are expected”, Korkmaz added that Turkish textile exporters’ associations suggested establishing a Turkish Textile Research Fund in order to guide the research conducted in the universities. In case of such a fund, the research conducted in the universities will be able to envisage the needs of the sector and those who want to make use of this fund will make applications and submit their projects to the Fund as it is the case in TUBITAK and Ministry of Industry and Technology.
Korkmaz expressed that Kahramanmaraş is one of the most important textile centres of Turkey and added that: “Until yesterday, the region was known for cotton yarn production but with the increase in the number of integrated plants in the region, the firms have started to tend towards technical textiles. In our university, researches are conducted on the nano-fibres having the feature of conductivity. Master’s and doctoral students carry out studies on such matters as transfer of drugs into the surface via micro-capsules and development of cleaner dyestuff. The studies on nonwoven are in infancy yet. The university always welcomes the projects to be shaped in line with the needs of the sector.”
