Technical textiles

Technology has certainly come a long way since the days of the Univac computer. Some amazing advance can be found in the world of technical textiles.

Traditional textiles − the sort that you wear, walk on, dry yourself with − were originally produced to keep us warm, protect our bodies and generally make our lives comfortable. The new technical textiles represent the latest advances in textiles technology and can be found in some surprising places. Their uses do not fall into categories as obvious as just clothing or furnishing.

Technical textiles are a new breed of fabrics, designed specifically for functional applications. They are sometimes sub-classified as industrial fabrics, medical textiles, composite reinforcements, filtration fabrics or protective clothing. However, they all fall within the classification of technical textiles because they must perform in some functional manner.

Technical textiles are all around us. Many people view textiles strictly as clothing, upholstery, drapery and carpeting, and do not realize that textiles are also an engineering material. They can now be finely engineered for specific functional uses, through the correct selection of fibre, yarns, manufacturing techniques, fabric forming and finishing techniques, and finished product fabrication.

Technical textiles are not always visible, and may not make up 100 per cent of a product, but they are an integral component of many products. Take a closer look at the products that are around you every day. Technical textiles are used for insulating homes, strengthening tyres on cars, repairing damaged organs or tissues in hospitals, protecting emergency service workers, purifying the air we breathe, providing the right bounce in tennis balls, and so on. They are also used during the industrial manufacture of many other products, such as paper, dyeing and finishing apparel grade fabrics and manufacturing liquid crystal displays.

Specific examples of the uses of technical textiles include:

· Wrapping the walk of buildings in a textile film to prevent moisture damage.

· Non-woven fabric filters in vacuum cleaners and air conditioning units.

· The sealing strips on double glazed windows.

· Cars alone may contain 13-14kg of technical textiles and not just in the obvious places like seats and carpets.

- The body and suspension systems have glass fibre reinforced components.

- Fabric filters keep the car running smoothly.

- Heat and sound absorbency textiles insulate various parts of the vehicle.

· Geotextiles can help to mate a firm foundation for roads and motorways.

· Many sports are now played on artificial turf made from polypropylene yarn.

· Surgical gowns offer protection from body fluids and the transmission of diseases like AIDS.

· Arteries and veins can be replaced with lengths of finely knitted textile tubes.

· Damaged ligaments can be supported with strong textile supports.

III Answer the questions

1. What textiles are considered as “traditional”?

2. What are technical textiles designed specifically for?

3. How are technical textiles sometimes sub-classified?

4. What are some specific examples of the uses of technical textiles?

IV Complete the sentences with the words from the text and translate them. Write the questions which begin with the words given in brackets

The new technical textiles represent … and can be found … . (What/Where)
Technical textiles must perform in… . (How)
… engineered for specific functional uses. (What)
Wrapping the walk of buildings in a textile film prevent … . (What)
… keep the car running smoothly. (What)
Geotextiles can help … . (How)
Many sports are now played on … . (Where)
Arteries and veins can be replaced … . (How)

V Read the words from the Ex.1. Look through the text again and find out the sentences with them. Make up your own sentences with these words

VI Match the phrases with the same or close meaning

1 - amazing advance

2 - originally produced

3 - fall into categories

4 - a new breed of fabrics

5 - sub-classified

6 - realize

7 - correct selection

8 - manufacturing techniques

a- right choice

b- subdivided

c- great progress

d- initially manufactured

e- be divided into types

f- understand

g- a new kind of fabrics

h- methods of production

VII Find out from the text the sentences with word-combinations from the Ex.VI, rewrite them using the synonyms

VIII Translate the sentences into English

1. Хірургічні халати захищають лікарів від потрапляння деяких хвороб.

2. Абсорбуючий текстиль ізолює від спеки та звуків.

3. Фільтри пилососів та кондиціонерів виготовляються з нетканих полотен.

4. Технічний текстиль може складати кілька відсотків виробу.

5. Традиційний текстиль виробляється для того, щоб зробити наше життя комфортнішим.

6. Технічний текстиль зазнав величезного розвитку за останні роки.

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II Look through the text again and make a list of terms, work with a vocabulary to check their pronunciations and meaning	\|	Reading and writing skills

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