Textile Chemistry Overview and Textile Chemicals from HT Fine

Ever wonder how certain fabrics protect against the bitter cold, keep athletes cool, or stretch with you as you bend? It’s all textile chemistry!

Textile chemistry is a highly specialized field that applies the principles of chemistry to the production of textiles, such as those used in clothing, furniture, tire yarn, air bags, and much more. Textile chemists may create new products to meet specific market needs or modify existing products to become more generally marketable.

Textile chemistry can be divided into three overlapping areas: dyeing and finishing chemistry, fiber and polymer chemistry, and a newer area that intersects with materials science and involves the blending of different textile materials. In the textile industry, chemists work in research and development, process development, process modification, technical services, environmental testing, and dyeing and finishing operations.

The study of textile chemistry begins with the knowledge of fibers, both natural and synthetic. Because polymeric synthetic fibers are such an important part of today's textile business, the field includes many chemists who are trained in polymer chemistry. The dyeing and finishing aspects of textile chemistry require an understanding of both organic chemistry and surface chemistry.

The interaction between textile chemistry and materials science is also increasing. Textile chemistry includes the application of the principles of surface chemistry to processes, such as dyeing and finishing. It also encompasses organic chemistry in the synthesis and formulation of the products used in these processes.

Education

Many chemists in the field are trained as polymer chemists. Although a number of schools specialize in textile chemistry, a textile degree is not a prerequisite for employment. Important courses of study include organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and colloid chemistry. Understanding the manufacturing process and familiarity with chemical engineering are important prerequisites to employment.

  
Workspace

The application of textile chemistry is always business and product oriented. Chemists may work in the lab, in the plant, in multidisciplinary teams, or with customers to assess needs and help them develop new products. As the business becomes more global, scientists in this field must be willing to travel and to adjust quickly to different cultures and different requirements for different markets.

Chemists are employed globally by chemical companies that manufacture the basic polymers from which synthetic fibers are made. They also are employed by small dyeing houses that dye yarns, fiber, fabric, and carpets. Chemistry is important in all functions, but the technical content tends to be more challenging in the polymer chemistry side than in the dyeing and finishing end

  

Textile Chemistry and Colouration

Textiles is a diverse sophisticated industry which is dependent on the fundamental principles of understanding materials and the manufacturing processes. A vital component in the success of the industry is the ability to engineer the chemistry and colouration "palette". Research is primarily involved with the synthesis, application, performance and measurement of novel coloured and colourless molecules. The research emphasis is on doing things better (quicker, cheaper) and with a lower adverse environmental impact than offered by conventional technology. With colour influencing all materials the extent of the colour expertise spectrum extends into digital printing, hair colouration, DNA detection, colour conservation and image analysis systems. Research also involves engineering and characterising the outer surface interface (1-2nm) of textiles in order to improve textile handle, water repellency, laundering properties and flame retardancy.

Textiles and Paper have established world class research facilities able to process and manufacture a comprehensive range of materials. Synthetic organic chemistry is conducted in new laboratory facilities, with dyeing and finishing being carried out using either small-scale laboratory equipment or semi-bulk facilities. In addition to the Colour research within Textiles and Paper is The Cotton Industry War Memorial Trust Digital Print Centre which has a range of Digital Print Technology and CAD Design Print Systems.

A dedicated Colour Science laboratory is available for colour measurement, colour prediction, image analysis studies and fibre colour analysis. In addition with extensive networking within and outside the School, access is available to a wide range of surface and bulk characterisation techniques.