Microencapsulation in the textile industry

Abstract

The application of microencapsulation techniques offers the possibility of producting novel products with many advantages compared to traditional textile products. The microcapsules can introduce important new qualities to garments and fabrics, such as enhanced stability and the controlled release of active compound(s). Although microencapsulation has found application in other business sectors during the last few decades (food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals), a significant number of microcapsule-based commercial products appeared in the textile industry during the 1990s, while many potential new products are still in the research and development stage. The most attractive examples are fabrics with durable fragrances, T-shirts with UV-ray absorbing microcapsules, T-shirts with thermo-changeable dyes, military uniforms with microencapsulated insecticide, thermo-regulation vehicle seats, ski suits, and gloves. In spite of important success in developing new products, there is a lot of space for further research, especially in order to improve the mechanical strength of the obtained microcapsules and the kinetics and the mechanism of the release of active compound(s). Therefore, numerous research has focused on the development of new methods of applyng of microcapsules on textile, new immobilization techniques and materials, are underway.