The document discusses technical textiles and nonwovens, with a focus on opportunities in India. It provides the following key points: 1. The technical textiles industry in India is still in its infancy but offers significant growth potential, especially in consumer products, infrastructure, and government procurement. 2. The global nonwovens market is growing rapidly, especially in Asia, presenting opportunities for India's industry to expand. 3. Research at Texas Tech University is developing innovative nonwoven wipes for decontamination of chemical agents, with promising results removing sulfur mustard. 4. For India to realize the potential of technical textiles, increased awareness, marketing skills, and education are needed regarding applications

1. Innovation in Nonwoven
Technical Textiles
Mind to Market
Seshadri S. Ramkumar
Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory
Texas Tech University
Lubbock TX, USA.
E-mail: s.ramkumar@ttu.edu

2. Technical Textiles?
Where is money in technical textiles?
How to grow the industry and make money?

3. Answers
The answer lies in the THREE major product categories:
1. Consumer tech products.
2. Institutional tech products.
(infrastructure, hospital or major bulk procurement items)
3. Government procurement products.
Source: New classification pertinent to developing countries developed by Seshadri Ramkumar, Texas Tech University, USA.

4.  ”Textile materials and products manufactured primarily
for their technical performance and functional properties
rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.”
Textile terms and definitions
The Textile Institute
Technical Textiles-Industry Definition

5.  Technical Textiles are value-added textile products that
provide added functionality and applications other than
regular fiber-to-fashion supply chain products.
 These technical textiles encompass high performance
fibers, yarns, woven, knitted, nonwoven, braided and
composite structures.
What are Technical Textiles ?

6. Thrust
Thrust will be to grow the sector that produces products that are close to
end-users or where the value is!!

7. Are Nonwovens Technical Textiles?
 Most of the nonwovens are technical textiles as they
have not yet penetrated into the apparel sector.
 Nonwovens are predominantly disposable and semi
durable goods.
 All nonwovens are technical textiles but all technical
textiles are not nonwovens.

8.  Technical textiles can be any fibrous material and their
combination with other items which have NON-
APPAREL applications, excluding paper.
Technical Textiles –Simple
Understanding

9.  Raw cotton with bark, seed coats and trash is a
TECHNICAL TEXTILE!
 Situations create new technical textile products.
 Generally, margins are high.
Amazing Reality
Oil Absorption by FiberTect

10. Current Status of Indian Textile
Industry
 India’s current textile and apparel market size is estimated to be
USD 90 billion.
 It is projected to reach USD 220 billion by 2020.
 Adequate focus on value-addition and value-enhancement will
enable India to be a textile power house.
Source: Seshadri Ramkumar, TexSnips, January 7, 2014

11. Global Nonwoven Market Scenario

12. Global nonwovens consumption was
estimated to be 161.3 billion (square
meters) in 2010 and is projected to be
250.4 billion (square meters) by 2015,
with a CAGR of 9.2%.
Global Market for Nonwovens
Source: The Future of Nonwovens to 2015: Global Market Forecasts, New PIRA International Market Report,
http://www.smitherspira.com/core/downloaddoc.aspx?documentid=4971

13. Global Market for Medical Nonwovens
Majority of the market
will be driven by
increased demand
for wound care, adult
incontinence and
health care wipes.

Source: The Future of Medical Nonwovens to 2018, New PIRA International Market Report,
https://www.smithersapex.com/market-reports/nonwovens/medical-nonwovens-industry-forecasts.aspx

14. Worldwide: Demand for Technical Textiles
Source: IFAI Specialty Fabrics Review, February 2012 and Transparency Market Research, USA, July 5, 2013
“Asia Pacific Region
Real Power Engine for Global
Technical Textiles Market ”

15. Asia’s Influence on the Global Technical
Textiles Market
Source: IFAI
Key
Markets
China
India
South
Korea
Taiwan
Key
Sectors
Automotive
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Protective textiles
Medical & Health
Care
Asian Technical
Textiles Market Share
in Global Technical
Textiles Market
In 2011, 45%
In 2018, 61%
(expected)

16. Outlook for Worldwide Nonwovens Production
(millions of tonnes)
Source: INDA Estimates & Rory Holmes, INDA-CAB Conference 2012 (www.inda.org)
2006 2011 2016
Growth Rate
2006-2011
(%/Year)
Growth
Rate2011-2016
(%/Year)
NAFTA 1.61 1.87 2.2 3.00% 3.30%
Europe 1.56 1.95 2.6 4.60% 5.90%
China 0.97 1.65 2.82 10.50% 12.00%
Other Asia
Pacific
0.51 0.59 0.78 3.00% 5.70%
Japan 0.33 0.33 0.35 0.00% 1.20%
Middle East 0.26 0.32 0.45 3.60% 7.70%
Rest of
World
0.44 0.9 1.88 16.60% 14.60%
TOTAL 5.68 7.61 11.08 6.00% 7.80%

17. Outlook for Worldwide Nonwovens Production
Source: INDA Estimates & Rory Holmes, INDA-CAB Conference 2012 (www.inda.org)
1997 2002 2011 2016
Growth Rate
1997-2010
(%/Year)
Growth Rate
2011-2016
(%/Year)
Dollars
(billions)
$11 $15 $26 $37 6.2% 7.8%
Sq Meters
(billions)
61 93 205 305 8.7% 9.0%
Tonnes
(millions)
2.7 4.0 7.6 11.1 7.7% 7.8%

18. Growth Prediction
of Technical
Textiles in India

19. Technical Textiles Growth in India
General Idea
Cover Story in Modern
Textiles, April/May 2008
Nonwoven and Technical Textiles,
January/March 2008
13.3 % CAGR for India

20. Diversification into Non-commodity
Textiles
 Indian textile industry should go on a higher gear in diversifying
into unconventional textiles.
 Even after 30 years of organized sector status, the nonwoven and
technical textile industry is growing at a rate of 6 % in USA and
Europe.
 This sector is at infancy in India and offers tremendous growth and
opportunities until 2050.

21. 2016 Nonwoven Projection in Asia
Source: INDA Estimates & Rory Holmes, INDA-CAB Conference 2012 (www.inda.org)
4.3 million tonnes

22. Technical Textile Scenario in India
 Technical textiles consumption in India is one-fifth of total
Asian consumption
 Employs about 800,000 people and 55% of employment
needs technically skilled manpower
 Employment is expected to grow at an annual rate of 13% to reach
2.6 million by 2016-17.
Source: Seshadri Ramkumar, TexSnips, July 3, 2013

23. Technical Textile Scenario in India
 Indian nonwoven textile production is just 3% of Asian
production
 Technical Textiles Sector in India to Reach $ 26 Billion
 Expected annual growth rate- 20%
Source: Seshadri Ramkumar, TexSnips, July 3, 2013

24. Consumption Of Nonwovens/TT in India
vs
GDP Per Capita
GDP per capita source: World Bank
YEAR GDP PER CAPITA (US$) CONSUMPTION OF
NONWOVENS/TT (kg)
2005 733 0.08
2010 1374 0.15
2015 2563 0.27
2020 4780 0.51
2025 8912 0.95
2030 16618 1.77
2035 30985 3.31
2040 57773 6.16
2045 107720 11.49
2050 200850 21.43
(Assuming An Increase Of 13.27% In Per Capita Every Year)

25. Consumption Of Nonwovens/TT in USA
vs.
GDP Per Capita
YEAR GDP PER CAPITA (US$) CONSUMPTION OF
NONWOVENS/TT (kg)
2005 42499 3.5
2010 52435 4.32
2015 65656 5.41
2020 82213 6.77
2025 102943 8.48
2030 128901 10.62
2035 161404 13.29
2040 202103 16.64
2045 264705 20.84
2050 331452 26.10
GDP per capita source: World Bank
(Assuming An Increase Of 4.6% In Per Capita Every Year)

26. India vs. USA Per Capita Nonwoven/TT Consumption
(2005-2050)
GDP per capita source: World Bank

27. India’s Per Capita Consumption vs. Income Levels
(2005-2050)
GDP per capita source: World Bank

28. India: Technical Textile Scenario
2007-2017
Source: Seshadri Ramkumar, TexSnips, July 3, 2013

29. Why Then the Indian Technical Textiles
Industry has not Grown Yet?
Requirements for the growth of technical textiles sector in India
1) Lack of awareness on how to make finished or converted technical
textile products.
2) Marketing know-how to sell and trade technical textile products.
3) 1-0-1 basic marketing class on technical textiles.
4) Technical textiles sector in India should know where and how
technical textiles are used on a daily basis.

30. Global Perspective of Technical Textiles in India
 India’s specialty fabric and nonwoven industry is fragmented and still in its
infancy, with no state-of-the-art technology in place compared to global
players.
 Textile industry is also undergoing a major reorientation from apparel to
specialty fabric applications.
 Specialty fabrics now accounts for more than half of the total textile
production in India.
 The focus of the government is on upgrading infrastructure (geosynthetics)
and increasing the use of automotive textiles (nonwovens).
 Other niche areas: Safety and protective (defense), medical textiles,
agriculture (nets, shading, mulch) and filtration fabrics.
Source: IFAI

31. Summary
(with specific reference to India)
 It is extremely important for the Indian textile industry to diversify into
durable technical textiles and disposable nonwovens.
 Technical textiles should at least contribute 15 -20 % of the total
textile sector by 2015-2020.
 Our growth prediction is that the industry should grow in double
digits around 13 %.

32. Nonwoven and Advanced Materials Lab
 Research and education activities focus on basic
and applied R&D activities on value-added fibrous
materials for enhancing human life and protecting
the environment.
 These materials find applications in defense,
homeland security and industrial markets.
Source: www.indiamart.com

33. Outcomes & Impact
 Next Generation Low Cost Personnel
Decontamination System.
 TTU wipe technology proved to be the best available
technology by Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory.
 US Patent published.
 Process for making protective chemical wipe and such
wipes, US 7,516,525 , April 14th, 2009.
 Four international scientific conferences organized .

34. Decontamination
Need and National Priority
Development of:
Non-particulate, Non-corrosive
and Environmentally Safe
Decontaminating System for
military personnel & equipment
is an international priority
research endeavor.
R&D in Sorbents, Catalysis, Membranes etc. is part of the
Modernization Strategy of the CBD Program of US Department of
Defense.*
* (Annual Reports from the US Department of Defense to the US Congress ’04 ’05 ’06 ‘07).
Wiping a surface using the
M291 Kit.

35. Fibrous Materials to Protect Human Life
and Environment
Nonwoven Fabric Structures
a) Personal decontamination
wipe for removing Chemical
warfare agents and toxic
chemicals.
b) Breathable protective
inner liners for chemical
protective suit.

36. Objectives
1) DEVELOPMENT:
To develop cotton-based Nonparticulate,
Non- corrosive & Nontoxic chemical
protective substrates for individual
protection that could
find following applications such as:
Personal Decontamination Wipes
Breathable Protective Inner Liners.
2) EVALUATION:
To Quantify and compare the adsorption
capabilities of the nonwoven composite
sorbent fabric.

37. L1
L3
L2
Three Layered Decontamination Wipe
L1 Pre-filter layer L2 Middle adsorbent layer L3 Next-to-skin layer
Needlepunching the composite
• L1 and L3 layers are cotton-based substrates which are
hydrophilic in nature, and help with absorption of CW agents &
simulants in liquid form.
• Many CW agents and their simulants can be volatile. It is
important to adsorb the agents in vapor phase.
• The core adsorbent layer is entirely microporous & helps with
vapor adsorption.

38. Top Needlepunched
Fabric
Activated Carbon
Nonwoven Fabric
Bottom
Needlepunched
Fabric
Interlocking is only
at the Interface
(Interlocking takes place only at the interface)
Cross-section of Absorbent-Adsorbent
Nonwoven Composite Wipe
Ramkumar et al. 2008, Next Generation Non-particulate Dry Nonwoven Wipe for Chemical Warfare
Agent Decontamination, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 47, (24) pp. 6885-6895.

39. SEM Images of the Interlocking at
the Interface

40. Next-to-Skin Friendly
Decontamination Wipe
Three Layered Nonwoven Wipe
Patent - S. S. Ramkumar, “Process for Making Chemical Protective
Wipes and Such Wipes,” US Patent 7,516, 525, April 14, 2009

41. Next-to-Skin Friendly
Decontamination Wipe
(Featured as the Quality Fabric of the Month in the Textile World
Magazine)

42. Highly Efficient & Flexible
Decontamination Wipe
Decon Wipe Drapes Around the Arm Decon Wipe Cleans the Elbow
Decon Wipe Cleans the Intricate Part
of an Automobile
Decon Wipe Drapes Around the
Corner of a Table

43. Novel Features & Superior Characteristics
of Nonwoven Decon Wipes
 The three-layered decontamination wipe is flexible,
drapable and soft.
 The decontamination wipe will be “next-to-skin”
friendly, which is extremely important for
personnel/human body decontamination.
 The decontamination wipe due to its flexibility will be
able to follow the shapes and contours of intricate
parts of the human body and equipment.
 The top and bottom layers of the decontamination
wipe provides the necessary structural coherence and
enhanced strength.

44. Novel Features & Superior Characteristics
of Nonwoven Decon Wipes
The important difference between the currently
available rigid wipes and the nonwoven wipe is
that the polymer films in rigid wipes mask the
active adsorption sites of the middle activated
carbon. This is NOT the case in flexible nonwoven
wipe.
The three-layered structure allows to add
functionality to the wipe such as topical
antibacterial treatment, etc.

45. M 291 Skin Decon Kit
Currently fielded skin
decontamination kit.
M 291 consists of a
decontamination powder
(Ambergard XE-555 resin) in
an applicator pad.
The dry powder is a carbonaceous adsorbent, a polystyrene
polymer and an ion-exchange resin.
Leaves a black powder on skin-this is a NEGATIVE aspect
for DoD personnel use.
Forms a dust cloud (particles in eye/inhaled).

46. *
*
*
Retention of Sulfur
Mustard (HD)
Adsorbed by
Nonwoven
Decontamination Wipe
Ramkumar et. al. 2008. Next Generation Non-particulate Dry Nonwoven Wipe for
Chemical Warfare Agent Decontamination Ind. & Eng. Chem, Res. 47 , No 24 pp.
9889-9895

47. *
*
*
Retention of Sulfur Mustard (HD) Adsorbed by Nonwoven
Decontamination Wipe
Figure & Table: Ramkumar et. al. 2008. Ind. & Eng. Chem, Res. 47 , No 24 pp. 9889-9895
Details of Materials Used
Physical Properties Type
Viscose Nonwoven
Fabric
Polyester Nonwoven
Fabric
Nonwoven Activated
Carbon
Weight (g/m2
) 100 80 140
Fiber Denier 3 6 -
Fiber Staple Length
(mm) 50.8 50.8 -
BET Surface Area (m2
/g) - - 1071*
*
Surface area data for nonwoven activated carbon were obtained from Professional Analytical and Consulting Services.22
Viscoseand polyester fiber details were provided by each manufacturer.

48. Memorable Date: April, 20th
Deepwater Horizon, Gulf of Mexico Oil
Spill

49. Cotton And Oil Sorption
Source: Singh, V.; Kendall, R. J.; Hake, K.; Ramkumar, S., Crude Oil Sorption by Raw Cotton. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2013, 52 (18), 6277-6281

50. Cotton And Oil Sorption
Crude oil sorption by raw cotton in oil-water system

51. Need of the Awareness
on the Technical
Textiles Converted
Sector

52. Converted Products are Necessary

53. Texas Tech University publishes timely news related
to Nonwovens and Technical Textiles called
TexSnips. It is distributed free of charge to interested
parties. If you are interested, please contact Dr.
Ramkumar at: s.ramkumar@ttu.edu

54. Research Output
 Technology Transfer
 A novel non-particulate dry sorbent nonwoven
wipe has been developed for decontamination of
personnel and sensitive equipment.
 This technology has been commercialized.
 TTU’s wipe technology has been recommended
for the next generation low cost personnel
decontamination system.