In addition to traditional textile, technical textiles are present in every field of eveyday life and constitute almost half of the total production of European firms. Together with European firms which direct 50 % of their total textile production, positive developments from China also trigger this rapid growth of the sector. While the biggest problems is the lack of definite data due to some deficiencies, share of China in the world’s total technical textile export is expressed as 21 %. Technical textiles which were identified as special consumption products about 10 years ago are now general products encountered in evey field. Technical textiles are commonly used in construction and building, agriculture, industry, clothes, hygiene, transport, packaging, protective clothes and ecological production.
As in the global arena, production and export of technical textiles increase every period. Rapid growth of construction sector in particular strengthens the trade of technical textiles used in this field. In Turkey which recorded a total export volume of 1.6 billion dollars in 2011, technical textiles used in the field of construction are generally consumed in the domestic market. Athough export in this field is not an item open to much development, export to countries which are geographically close to Turkey stands out. High resistance of technical textiles gives more popularity to these products in the field of construction. Use of these products which provide solutions in terms of protection and human health increases considerably in every country where constuction sector grows. When classification of construction textiles in terms of usage is examined, construction textiles used in buildings, constuction textiles used in membrane constructions, construction textiles used in temporary buildings, construction textiles used in dams and construction textiles used in bridges are listed.
High Resistance and Aesthetic Stand Out
Textile materials have been used in buildings for years. As a result of demand increase with the use of synthetic fibers in particular, tehnical textile products came into use intensively in such places as stadiums, airports, gym centers, military warehouses, fair and show centers. As technical textiles used in buildings provide protection against eartquake by giving resistance and are aesthetic, their popularity is increasing rapidly. Its lightness in comparison to concrete and other materials, use of less reinforcement products also provide an advantage in terms of cost.
Technical fabrics used in the field of construction are generally obtained out of synthetic fibers. Besides, the most common fibers include high-resistant polyester, glass and nylon fibers. While polyester is much more preferred as it provides resistance and cost effectiveness, glass fibers which are rather resistant against tension are identified as the most important fibers of this field. In addition to these fibers, HDPE is used in buildings which require the highest level of resistance while hollow fibers are preferred in applications for heat and sound insulation.
Fabrics Used in the Field of Construction
Textiles used in this field are selected out of fabrics resistant against deformation under load, wind, water, sun lights as well as acid rains. However, all of the fabrics used in this manner are formed after being coated in chemical agents. Considering the fabrics used in this field generally, it is seen that warp knitting fabrics are preferred for their strong structure; nonwoven fabrics are preferred for their cost effectiveness and lightness. Furthermore, coating fabrics resistant against climate conditions, resistant woven and knitted polyesters are also used.
