Nanofabrics is an emerging nanotechnology that deals with building specialized fabrics. For the development of new and smart textiles nanotechnology is being used by textile industries to add imaginative and exciting properties to textiles for fashion and industry. These range from scent-embedded textiles, stay-clean textiles, colour change textiles and lightweight textiles that are so strong to withstand the impact of even a bullet. Many new textiles are also being developed that not only promote faster healing of patients recovering from surgical procedures but also enhance health and well being in the elderly. Other applications are for nano surface coating of textiles, for example, with deodorant substances. These textiles developed by electrostatic self assembly (ESA) processing methods have greatly reduced weight, low manufacturing costs, ability to stretch and durability to withstand repeated washings.
Intelligent textiles
The new nanotextiles could be used for a number of applications including as a shield for potentially harmful and disruptive radio frequency (RF) radiation. for example a cell phone can be wrapped in it to blocks the RF incoming and outgoing signals. Even gold and silver can be spun into flexible fabrics to make electrically conductive and nearly transparent materials. Smart clothes, like intelligent textile can be embedded with sensors to count one’s pulse rate or accommodate communication instruments. There is report about e-textiles with specific mechanical and electrical properties which can meet specific needs.