industrial fabrics are fi re-resistant or have
extreme moisture absorbency. Many are used
in the medical fi eld. Others are used in road
building or landfi lls. The major sub-categories of
industrial textiles, and typical products of each
are shown in 4-19.
The transportation category has the
largest market for industrial textiles. They are
especially used in automobile interiors and tires.
Geotextiles, which relate to the earth’s surface,
have the second largest market.
Some industrial textiles go into fi nished
products, such as awnings, tents, and luggage.
Some are consumed in processes, as fi lters,
twine, and buffi ng wheels that wear out or
are thrown away when used. Composites
are textiles combined with other materials.
Composites are used in such products as
commercial hoses, belting, car fenders, boat
hulls, and truck tanks, 4-20.
The Home Sewing
Industry
The home sewing industry deals with the
production and selling of nonindustrial sewing
machines, notions, retail fabrics, patterns, and
publications. Home sewing is done for many
personal reasons, such as
for the feeling of achievement of having
made a fi nished, usable item from basic raw
materials
for proper fi t of a specifi c body shape,
when ready-made clothing is only made
in general sizes from standard “average”
measurements for each size
for creative individuality, or to achieve
fashion self-expression that is different
from the garments of others who buy
ready-made clothing that sometimes
seems to all look alike
to save money if reasonably priced materials
are available and if the person has the time
and skill to make the items
for quality of construction that is better
than mass-produced items that sometimes
fall apart sooner than expected or are
unsatisfactory in other ways
for relaxation through a stress-reducing
activity
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Main Categories of Industrial Textiles
Architecture: Reinforcing domes and stadium roofs;
infl atable buildings for warehousing and sports;
fabric sculptures; noise control in offi ces, public
buildings, convention halls; innovation in space,
shape and design concepts; high strength of new
fi ber possibilities.
Agrotextiles: Materials for agricultural and
horticultural end uses, farm maintenance,
landscaping, weed control, seed bed protection,
insect and animal netting, shade fabrics,
greenhouses, drainage systems and irrigation,
livestock protection.
Construction: Reinforcements for building
materials, concrete, cement, pipe relining and/or
reconstruction; insulations; bridges; roofi ng systems;
screening.
General Industrial: Curing wraps; metalized
products; netting; closure systems, tents, awnings,
bags, sports and leisure; mechanical rubber goods;
rope and cordage; webbing.
Filtration: Fabrics assisting in cleaning and
separating and/or recovery of air and by-products;
hot air/gas industrial fi ltration; wet fi ltration; milk
processing.
Geotextiles: Soil stabilization and erosion
prevention; reinforcement for lining waste ponds
and pits; drainage systems; roadbeds for paving;
hydraulic engineering; environmental protection;
lining and covering landfi lls.
Military and Defense: Personnel protection;
parachutes; aerospace and electronics components;
covers; chemical suits; ballistic protection; tents
and infl atable buildings; medical devices; fl ight and
tank driver garments; marine applications; rescue
systems.
Safety/Medical: Textiles for protection from heat
and/or fi re, extreme low temperatures, impact,
pressure, ionizing and nonionizing radiation;
breathable membranes; operating room textiles;
special bandages; safety fl ags.
Papermaking: Mainly paper felts of complex weaves
using monofi lament yarns or for the manufacture and
carrying of paper.
Transportation (for cars, buses, railways, trucks,
planes, and ships): Interior materials; hose and
belt reinforcement; trunk liners, air bags, gaskets
and brake linings, muffl ers, tires, seating, carpeting,
sound dampening.
4-19 These are the major categories of
industrial textiles and the typical fabric uses
in each.
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