Recycling and application of textile waste in different products

Disposing of textiles and agriculture waste is a very big problem. Textile waste covers a wide variety of products including fibres, yarns, and fabrics. It is estimated that around 92 million tons of clothing waste are thrown out every year globally. Most of the portion goes into landfills. This is not only a cause for environmental concern but also represents a waste of useful resources. Reconverting waste clothing material by mixing it with resins can be explored for developing high-quality products like wall and floor tiles. Keeping this in mind, in this study various types of textile wastes like denim, waste fibres from spinning like hemp, polyester, flax, cotton, etc are used to develop wall and floor tiles material having water and flame retardant properties.  Similarly, agriculture waste was also utilized in making various products including tiles, bricks, manhole covers, and drainage cover slabs.  The developed tiles were also tested and compared with the conventional ceramic tiles.

What is Textile Auxiliaries?

At various stages of textile wet processing different types of chemicals and auxiliaries are used. Though all are actually chemicals, in practice the materials without which a process cannot be complete are termed as “chemicals” and the other substances which facilitate or improve the performance of that process are termed as “auxiliaries”. 

Auxiliaries are those chemicals which help processing operation such as preparation, dyeing, printing or finishing to be carried out more effectively. Some of the cases these chemicals are essential if a given effect such as wash & wear, water repellent, flame retardant, aroma finish, anti odour, colour deepening etc. is to be obtained. 

Classifications of Chemical Auxiliaries:

These can be classifies in to two ways:

i)             Permanent or Temporary auxiliaries

ii)           Nature of auxiliaries (Surface active/non surface active/soluble/dispersing or emulsifying) 

Difference between inherent flame retardant and treated fabric

Inherent FR fabrics are made of fibers in which the FR properties are in-inbuilt during the polymerization and can never be worn away or washed out. The actual structure of the fiber itself is non-flammable; therefore, the flame retardant property is permanent.

On the other hand treated FR fabrics are made by applying a flame-retardant chemical finish to a fabric or by adding a chemical treatment to the fibers before they are woven or knitted into the fabric. The chemicals form a strong bond with the polymer chain of fibre that is difficult to remove by washing when the recommended laundering instructions are followed accurately. The chemical treatment alters the molecular structure of the polymer.