The production, characterization and applications of nanoparticles in the textile industry

Nanosized particles can exhibit unexpected properties different from those of the original bulk material. The basic premise is that properties can dramatically change when a substance's size is reduced to the nanometre range. The applications of nanoparticles, e.g. carbon black or some finishing agents in the textile industry, have a long tradition but are in fact not part of nanotechnology. A typical feature of nanotechnology in textiles is to use nanoparticles with some systematic arrangements. In this manuscript, the main features of nanotechnology are summarized. A core part is devoted to the description of the nanoparticle behaviour arising from their small dimensions. The problem of nanoparticle stabilization is denoted. Selected applications of nanoparticles in the textile field are reviewed.