When one is considering utilising nanomaterials in textiles much depends on what functionality is desired and the compatibility of the nanomaterial with the fibre material. The level of functionality is determined both by the specific properties of the material and also how it is incorporated with the fibre. The compatibility is determined in a large part by the surface chemistry of the particles and the production process used to make the nanomaterial.

Manufacturing nanoparticles can be achieved through a wide variety of different routes, some of which have been around for many years, others which are far more recent. In essence there are four generic routes to make your nanoparticles; wet chemical, mechanical, form-in-place and gas phase synthesis. The resultant materials can have significantly different properties depending on the route chosen to fabricate them and some routes are more aligned with the fabrication of certain classes of materials.

Michael Pitkethly is CEO, Cenamps