Technical Textiles are defined as textile materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical performance and functional properties. Some of the major reasons for the recent demand for technical textiles pertain to their cost effectiveness, durability, high strength, versatility, user-friendliness, eco-friendliness, logistic convenience, etc. Technical textiles constitute woven, knitted and non-woven fabrics made from natural fibres (cotton and wool), synthetic fibres (polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic, elastomeric, p-ararnid, m-aramid and other high-performance synthetics, regenerated fibres (viscose rayon, acetate rayon) and inorganic fibres such as carbon, glass, ceramics and steel fibres. Based on the end-use applications, they have been broadly classified into 12 categories namely Agrotech, Buildtech, Clothtech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, Mobiletech, Medtech, Oekotech, Packtech, Protech and Sporttech.
Agrotech includes technical textile products used in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry. Standardization in the field of agrotech is handled by the Technical textiles for Agrotech Applications Sectional Committee, TXD 35 with the mandate to formulate Indian Standards for terminology, testing and specifications for technical textiles for agrotech.
i) IS 16008 (Part 1):2016 Agro textiles – Shade nets for agriculture and horticulture purposes Part 1 Shade nets made from tape yarns
This standard prescribes constructional and other requirements for Agro shade nets manufactured from tape yarns for agriculture and horticulture purposes in protecting/ increasing crop yield by providing controlled climatic conditions for the intended crops. This standard specifies three types of shade nets based on the shading factor of 50, 75 and 90%. The shading percentage is determined based on the amount of light transmitted through the sample, measured with the help of the PAR sensor.
The shade nets are mostly used for agriculture and horticulture applications, particularly in countries like India. The varying climatic conditions throughout the year, together with the slow but constant rising temperature in the summer months prove the need for shade nets to maximize growth and crop yields. The shade nets help in controlling the temperature by accumulating the day heat to withstand the low temperatures of the night to help the off-season ripening of fruits and vegetables. It also acts as a windshield to prevent damage to young plants.
ii) IS 16008 (Part 2):2016 Agro textiles – Shade nets for agriculture and horticulture purposes Part 2 Shade nets made from mono filament yarns
This standard prescribes constructional and other requirements for Agro shade nets manufactured from mono filament yarns for agriculture and horticulture purposes in protecting/ increasing crop yield by providing controlled climatic conditions for the intended crops. This standard specifies four types of shade nets based on the shading factor of 35, 50, 75 and 90%.
iii) IS 16513:2016 Agrotextiles – Insect nets for agriculture and horticulture purposes
This standard prescribes constructional and other requirements for insect nets for agriculture and horticulture purposes in protecting the crop from insects such as aphids, whitefly, carrot fly, cabbage root fly and caterpillars etc. This standard specifies three types of insect nets based on their mesh size (30, 40 and 50 mesh).
iv) IS 16190:2014 Agro textiles – High density polyethylene (HDPE) laminated woven fabric lay flat tubes for irrigation purpose
This standard prescribes constructional and other requirements for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) laminated woven lay flat tubes of internal diameter 50, 63, 75, 90, 110, 125, 150, 175 and 200 mm for irrigation purpose. These lay-flat tubes are used at the delivery lines of the agriculture pump sets, which may be exposed to the atmosphere and sunlight. These lay flat tubes are manufactured from 260 GSM, HDPE 5-layer laminated fabric, can sustain bursting pressure of 2.6 Kg/cm2.
High-density polyethylene laminated woven lay flat tube has been developed to easily transport water in the agriculture field and have the advantage of being lighter in weight. These lay- flat tubes do not require fixed installation and can transport water to the place of choice easily. Farmers are expected to incur less fixed expenditure to irrigate their fields at considerably lower running costs as compared to the existing piping systems. These lay-flat tubes can sustain the actual field conditions like uneven field surface, extreme climatic conditions, resistance to puncture etc.
v) IS 15351:2015 Agro textiles- Laminated high density polyethylene woven geomembrane for water proof lining
This standard prescribes requirements for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) woven Geomembrane laminated with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or a suitable combination of LDPE and LLDPE for use as lining for the canal, pond and reservoir to control seepage and for proper disposal of industrial effluents, etc. This standard specifies four types of geomembranes of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 mm thickness.
The primary function of geomembrane applied in ponds/reservoirs is to prevent loss of water due to seepage. The successful performance of geomembrane is based on good quality material, installation and appropriate design of ponds/reservoirs. To improve the service life of the geomembrane, it must be placed on the pond/reservoir surface according to the dimensions and contours of the pond/reservoir ensuring full contact with the subgrade. To achieve this onsite laying, joining and fixing are imperative.
Written by
J K Gupta
Head (Textile Deptt)
Tanishq Awasthi
Scientist B (Textile Deptt)