Nano-Textiles (NanoTrust Dossier Nr. 015en – December 2010)

The use of nanotechnology in textiles aims to improve the material’s functionalities and/or give it new characteristics (“Smart Clothes”). At present there are dirt and water-repellent as well as antibacterial textiles on the market. Many manufacturing processes are still rather cost-intensive, but there are already “nano-textiles” on the market, although it can be assumed, that “nano” is being used to advertise otherwise conventional products. The “The Hohensteiner Institutes” have therefore introduced a quality label for nano-textiles. Theoretically, nanoparticles can be released by mechanical load, abrasion and other external influences. There have been no experimental investigations on these issues. In particular carbon nanotubes are considered to be harmful, with the result that employees in the industry have first to be protected. , There have been no long-term studies on the effects of nano-silver in textiles with antibacterial function on the human skin flora. Investigations of the use of materials containing nano-silver show that some products lose a substantial part of the silver into the washing water - and thus into the environment - after only a single wash. Nano-silver is toxic for aquatic organisms and also for the microorganisms in the soil. There have been no studies of the possible effects of nano-silver in ecosystems, or of nano-titanium dioxide, which is classified as hazardous due to its possible impact on the environment