Factors Influencing the Functions of Optical Brighteners

Optical Brighteners

The optical brighteners counteract the yellowness of the fabric by increasing the reflection of blue light rays. They convert invisible short-wave ultraviolet rays of sunlight into visible blue light and has a degree of whiteness which is comparatively more intense.

Optical Brighteners

Factors Influencing the Functions of Optical Brighteners
Optical brighteners or optical whiteners are applied to substrate as a separate after-treatment process or are incorporated into bleaching and finishing baths. Since the fluorescent brightening agents behave like dyestuffs, their efficiency and effectiveness are influenced by various factors that are important in application.

Substrate
The brightening effect is dependent on the nature of the substrate. For example, a very strong reflectance is observed with whitened cotton, but it is weaker in viscose and wool. All synthetic fibres absorb strongly in the near ultraviolet region. Since the fluorescence produced by optical brightening agent is added to reflectance of the substrate, the maximum fluorescence effect is achieved on those substrate whose ability to absorb the ultraviolet region is suppressed by chemical brightening. In the absence of sufficient affinity of brighteners, the application results in yellow to green colour yield.

Saturation
There is a saturation limit for each optical whitening agent. Above certain concentration on the fibre a yellow colour is superimposed on the flourescence resulting in decrease in whiteness. This is because at higher concentration of brighteners a protective optical layer (filter) is formed on the surface of the substrate which prevents the extinction of the molecules of the brightening agent in deeper layers (so called self-quenching, concentration quenching of fluorescence or filter effect).

Method of application
The saturation limit of an optical brightening agent, however, is also dependent on the method of application to the substrate. Usually exhaust application process gives higher whiteness value then it does when applied by padding technique for a given amount of whitener.

Time
Generally optical brightening agents have high rate of exhaustion on the substrate and therefore great care is to be taken to avoid unlevel application. Slow exhaustion rate and increased migration time is necessary to produce level whiteness on the fabric.

Temperature
The optimum temperatures of optical brightening agents on cellulosic fibres are usually between 40 and 60~ and further rise in temperature tend to lower the exhaustion. However, for synthetic fibres higher temperature is needed for good penetration of the brighteners.

pH
The chemical stability, solubility and affinity of optical brightening agents depend on effective pH value in solution. For example, for wool and polyamide fibres, optimum pH is on the acidic side for better exhaustion.

Salt
Generally salt is added in the application bath to promote and also to control the rate of exhaustion of the brighteners on cellulosic fibres.

Automatic Pneumatic Grinding Machine

AUTOMATIC PNEUMATIC GRINDING MACHINE
Selva Kumar
Kalasalingam University, Tamil Nadu, India
Email: selvaddsniper@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION
The pneumatic grinding is a metal grinding machine tool designed to cut/grind metal by applying pneumatic pressure. It is widely used in carding machine to grind wire.

Automatic Pneumatic Grinding Machine

The machine is exclusively intended for mass production and they represent the fastent and more efficient way to cut a metal. The slow speed operation is occurs in a grinding operation. This machine is a multipurpose machine.

Hacksaws are used to cut thin and soft metals. The grinding shaft is used to grinding operation by replacing the hacksaw frame. The operation of the unit is simplified to a few simple operations involving a cylinder block and piston arrangement.

There are numerous types of grinding machines in Engineering field, which are used to fulfil the requirements. We are interested to introduce pneumatic system in especially in grinding machine and also grinding operation.

The main function of Pneumatic grinding is to cut thin and soft metals by pneumatic power.

LITERATURE SURVEY

PNEUMATICS
The word ‘pneuma’ comes from Greek and means breather wind. The word pneumatics is the study of air movement and its phenomena is derived from the word pneuma. Today pneumatics is mainly understood to means the application of air as a working medium in industry especially the driving and controlling of machines and equipment.

Pneumatics has for some considerable time between used for carrying out the simplest mechanical tasks in more recent times has played a more important role in the development of pneumatic technology for automation.

Pneumatic systems operate on a supply of compressed air which must be made available in sufficient quantity and at a pressure to suit the capacity of the system. When the pneumatic system is being adopted for the first time, however it wills indeed the necessary to deal with the question of compressed air supply.

The key part of any facility for supply of compressed air is by means using reciprocating compressor. A compressor is a machine that takes in air, gas at a certain pressure and delivered the air at a high pressure.

Compressor capacity is the actual quantity of air compressed and delivered and the volume expressed is that of the air at intake conditions namely at atmosphere pressure and normal ambient temperature.

The compressibility of the air was first investigated by Robert Boyle in 1962 and that found that the product of pressure and volume of a particular quantity of gas.

The usual written as:

PV = C (or) PıVı = P2V2 

In this equation the pressure is the absolute pressured which for free is about 14.7 Psi and is of courage capable of maintaining a column of mercury, nearly 30 inches high in an ordinary barometer. Any gas can be used in pneumatic system but air is the mostly used system now a days.

SELECTION OF PNEUMATICS
Mechanization is broadly defined as the replacement of manual effort by mechanical power. Pneumatic is an attractive medium for low cost mechanization particularly for sequential (or) repetitive operations. Many factories and plants already have a compressed air system, which is capable of providing the power (or) energy requirements and the control system (although equally pneumatic control systems may be economic and can be advantageously applied to other forms of power).

The main advantage of an all pneumatic system are usually economic and simplicity the latter reducing maintenance to a low level. It can also have out standing advantages in terms of safety.

PRODUCTION OF COMPRESSED AIR
Pneumatic systems operate on a supply of compressed air, which must be made available. In sufficient quantity and at a pressure to suit the capacity of the system. When pneumatic system is being adopted for the first time, however it wills indeed the necessary to deal with the question of compressed air supply.

The key part of any facility for supply of compressed air is by means using reciprocating compressor. A compressor is a machine that takes in air, gas at a certain pressure and delivered the air at a high pressure.

Compressor capacity is the actual quantity of air compressed and delivered and the volume expressed is that of the air at intake conditions namely at atmosphere pressure and normal ambient temperature. Clean condition of the suction air is one of the factors, which decides the life of a compressor. Warm and moist suction air will result in increased precipitation of condense from the compressed air. Compressor may be classified in two general types.

1. Positive displacement compressor.
2. Turbo compressor

Positive displacement compressors are most frequently employed for compressed air plant and have proved highly successful and supply air for pneumatic control application.

The types of positive compressor

1. Reciprocating type compressor
2. Rotary type compressor

Turbo compressors are employed where large capacity of air required at low discharge pressures. They cannot attain pressure necessary for pneumatic control application unless built in multistage designs and are seldom encountered in pneumatic service.

RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS
Built for either stationary (or) portable service the reciprocating compressor is by far the most common type. Reciprocating compressors lap be had is sizes from the smallest capacities to deliver more than 500 m³/min. In single stage compressor, the air pressure may be of 6 bar machines discharge of pressure is up to 15 bars. Discharge pressure in the range of 250 bars can be obtained with high pressure reciprocating compressors that of three & four stages.

Single stage and 1200 stage models are particularly suitable for pneumatic applications , with preference going to the two stage design as soon as the discharge pressure exceeds 6 bar , because it in capable of matching the performance of single stage machine at lower costs per driving powers in the range .

COMPONENTS AND DESCRIPTION

PNEUMATIC CONTROL COMPONENT

Pneumatic cylinder
An air cylinder is an operative device in which the state input energy of compressed air i.e. pneumatic power is converted in to mechanical output power, by reducing the pressure of the air to that of the atmosphere.

Single acting cylinder
Single acting cylinder is only capable of performing an operating medium in only one direction. Single acting cylinders equipped with one inlet for the operating air pressure, can be production in several fundamentally different designs.

Single cylinders develop power in one direction only. Therefore no heavy control equipment should be attached to them, which requires to be moved on the piston return stoke single action cylinder requires only about half the air volume consumed by a double acting for one operating cycle.

Double acting cylinders:
A double acting cylinder is employed in control systems with the full pneumatic cushioning and it is essential when the cylinder itself is required to retard heavy messes. This can only be done at the end positions of the piston stock. In all intermediate position a separate externally mounted cushioning derive most be provided with the damping feature.

The normal escape of air is out off by a cushioning piston before the end of the stock is required. As a result the sit in the cushioning chamber is again compressed since it cannot escape but slowly according to the setting made on reverses. The air freely enters the cylinder and the piston stokes in the other direction at full force and velocity.

CONTROL VALVE:
Various types of control valves are used to regulate, control and monitor the air energy for control of direction pressure, flow, etc.

Pneumatic energy is regulated and controlled by pneumatic valves. Functionally valves are divided into four major groups.

• Direction Control
• Flow Control

In our project electrically actuated solenoid operated 5/2 DC valves are used.

Solenoid is another name for an electromagnet. Direction control valves are very often actuated by electromagnets. An electromagnet is a temporary magnet. A magnetic force is developed in an electromagnet when electrical current passes through it and force drops down as soon as it is de energized.

This electromagnet is commonly termed as solenoid. The proper working of a solenoid operated valve depends on the reliability of the electromagnets.

It ensures

• Quick and sure action
• Long life.
• Easy maintenance.
• Less wastage of energy.

Solenoid Valve
The directional valve is one of the important parts of a pneumatic system. Commonly known as DCV, this valve is used to control the direction of air flow in the pneumatic system. The directional valve does this by changing the position of its internal movable parts.

This valve was selected for speedy operation and to reduce the manual effort and also for the modification of the machine into automatic machine by means of using a solenoid valve. A solenoid is an electrical device that converts electrical energy into straight line motion and force. These are also used to operate a mechanical operation which in turn operates the valve mechanism.

Solenoids may be push type or pull type. The push type solenoid is one in which the plunger is pushed when the solenoid is energized electrically. The pull type solenoid is one is which the plunger is pulled when the solenoid is energized.

The name of the parts of the solenoid should be learned so that they can be recognized when called upon to make repairs, to do service work or to install them.

Solenoid Valve

HOUSE AND FITTINGS:
It is provided for the passage of compressed air from the compressor outlet to the operating valve.

Two separate pipes also connect the operating valve with the working cylinder pressure drop through and air line depends on the flow rate, pipe diameter, pipe length and pipe geometry. It can be determined directly for straight pipes of any given length. A small chaining bore size can have marked effect on pressure drop, where as even doubling the pipe length, will only result in doubling the pressure drop.

Pressure drop through bends and fittings can only be determined by empirical tests, since it is specific to the internal geometry involved. Rigid pipes however are less manipulated through remain form of bends with arrangements increase and variable air have to flow and the flow itself may be of fluctuating or pulsating nature. In this case it is thus normally based on practical recommendation.

SEALS:
Seal is an important component of a pneumatic system and is used to prevent the air leakage through the joint.

This project passes the static seal which are used to prevent the leakage through the stationary surface.

Material of the seal is Teflon tape. Teflon has the following properties

• Withstand the system pressure and temperature without any damage.
• Resist the wear and abrasion.
• Recover from deformation.
• Resists the adverse effects such as deterioration and shrinking caused by the system air.

Seals are devices for closing gaps to prevent leakage or make pressure joints and also to prevent the entry of air and dirt from outside into the system. The material of seal must be compatible with the fluid medium. It is a circular ring made of synthetic rubber. It is used for providing tight sealing between the piston and the cylinder wall. It prevents air leakage from the top and bottom of the cylinder.

Seals for air cylinder and valves are not normally called upon to seal pressure higher than about 2 bars. Since the fluid to be seated is a gas, (in our case air) rubbing speeds tends to be high and the seal the seal may have to be operated under dry conditions with minimal lubrication.

CONTROL TIMER CIRCUIT:

Need for a Timer Circuit:
Main purpose to timer circuit is to actuate the solenoid valve at regular interval of time to achieve proper lubrication at the desired interval.

ELECTRONIC CONTROL TIMING UNIT:-
Here the 555 IC has been used as a multi vibrator. The output of IC 555 is fed to the input pin (pin no 14) of CD 4017 continues counting.

The output of the IC becomes available at pin Nos. 3, 2 and 4. The output pulse of any one of output pin triggers (Puts ON) the Triac and current starts flowing across the load connected. This process continues on other pins at different time intervals and the cycle continues. The frequency interval (Time) of the cycle can be adjusted by the pre-set look connected to pin 6 of 555 Timer IC. 

ELECTRONIC CONTROL TIMING UNIT

Automatic Grinding Machine

WORKING PRINCIPLE

PNEUMATIC CIRCUIT:

Pneumatic circuit

Since pneumatic circuit plays a vital role in this device, it is very necessary to explain the working of this circuit.

Initially starting with air compresses, its function is to compress air from a low inlet pressure (usually atmospheric) to a higher pressure level. This is an accomplished by reducing the volume of the air.

Air compressors are generally positive displacement units and are either of the reciprocating piston type or the rotary screw or rotary vane types. The air compressor used here is a typically small sized, two-stage compressor unit. It also consists of a compressed air tank, electric rotor and pulley drive, pressure controls and instruments for quick hook up and use. The compressor is driver by a 10HP motor and designed to operate in 145 – 175 PSI range. If the pressure exceeds the designed pressure of the receiver a release value provided releases the excesses air and thus stays a head of any hazards to take place.

The stored air from compressor is passed through an air fitter where the compressed air is filtered from the fine dust particles. However, before the suction of air into compressor a filter process take place, but not sufficient to operate in the circuit here the filter is used.

Then having a pressure regulator where the desired pressure to the operated is set. Here a variable pressure regulator is adopted.

Through a variety of direction control value are available, a hand operated solenoid Valve with control unit is applied.

The solenoid valve used here is 5 ports, 3 positions. There are two exhaust ports, two outlet ports and one inlet port. In two extreme positions only the directions can be changed while the Centro ore is a neutral position and no physical changes are incurred.

The 2 outlet ports are connected to an actuator (Cylinder). The pneumatic activates is a double acting, single rod cylinder. The cylinder output is coupled to further purpose. The piston end has an air horning effect to prevent sudden thrust at extreme ends.

PRINCIPLES OF WORKING

• The compressed air from the compressor reaches the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve changes the direction of flow according to the signals from the timing device. 

• The compressed air pass through the solenoid valve and it is admitted into the front end of the cylinder block. The air pushes the piston for the grinding stroke. At the end of the grinding stroke air from the solenoid valve reaches the rear end of the cylinder block. The pressure remains the same but the area is less due to the presence of piston rod. This exerts greater pressure on the piston, pushing it at a faster rate thus enabling faster return stroke. 

• The weight attached at the end of the hacksaw frame gives constant loads which lower the hacksaw to enable continuous grinding of the work. 

• The stroke length of the piston can be changed by making suitable adjustment in the timer. 

• Grinding hacksaw frame is removed in the case of grinding operation. The above same procedure is occurring in the grinding operation.

APPLICATIONS

1. Agriculture:

• Crop forming
• Stock breeding
• Animal food industries
• Foresting

2. Utilities:

• Power Station
• Nuclear Engineering
• Water Supply

3. Mining
4. Chemical Industry
5. Plastics and rubber industries
6. Stone, Ceramic and glass industries
7. Metal Industries:

• Iron and Steel
• Non-ferrous metals
• Foundries
• Scrap and recycled metals

8. Leather Industry
9. Textile Industry
10. Paper and Printing Industry
11. Grinding Industries

ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS

ADVANTAGES:

• There is no need of giving feed during every cut due to the presence of weight.
• The grinding/grinding speed can be varied according to our needs by adjusting the timer.
• It is portable
• It does not have any Prime mover, like electric motor related to the unit.
• As the air is freely available, we can utilize the air to cut the metal and hence it is economical.
• Simple in construction than mechanical hacksaw and grinder
• It is a compact one
• Less Maintenance

LIMITATIONS

• Only smaller size and soft metal can be cut
• It is costlier than the mechanical hacksaw because of compressor unit.
• Less efficiency when compressed to mechanical device.
• Leakage of air affects the working of the unit.

COST ESTIMATION

Sl. No.	PARTS	Qty.	Cost
i.	Cylinder block (with piston)	1
ii.	Solenoid valve	1
iii.	Machine vice	1
iv.	Timing device	1
v.	Flexible hoses	-
vi.	Hack Saw frame	1
vii.	Bolts & Nuts	-
viii.	PU Connectors	-
ix.	Flow Control Valve	1
x	Grinding Shaft	1
	TOTAL

 

LABOUR COST
LATHE, DRILLING, WELDING, GRINDING, POWER HACKSAW, GAS GRINDING:
Cost =

OVERHEAD CHARGES
The overhead charges are arrived by “Manufacturing cost”

Manufacturing Cost = Material Cost + Labour cost

Overhead Charges = 20% of the manufacturing cost

TOTAL COST
Total cost = Material Cost + Labour cost + Overhead Charges

Total cost for this project =

An Overview of Carding Cylinder

An Overview of Carding Cylinder

Bhavdip Paldiya
Dept. of Textile Technology
Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology, Surat, India
Cell: +91 9662020909
Email: bhavdipk9009@gmail.com

What is Cylinder:
The carding cylinder is usually manufactured from cast iron, but is now sometimes made of steel. Most cylinders have a diameter of 1280-1300 mm and rotate at speeds between 250 and 500 rpm.

Specification of Cylinder:

1. DIAMETER  : 50”(120 mm)
2. SPEED  : 250-500 rpm
3. WIRE POINT PER INCH: 550-650 
4. SURFACE SPEED: 1000ft/min.
5. TOTAL WIRE POINT: 30lac
6. WIRE POINT DIRECTION: Anti clock

Objectives of Cylinder:

1. Back plate:

• To hold the fibre.
• To prevent the development of undesirable air current.

2. Top feather edge sheet: It controls the wt. & thickness of the flat strips.

3. Cylinder stripping door: This door is used to strip the wire point of cylinder.

4. Bottom sheet:

• To hold the fibre.
• To prevent the development of undesirable air current.

5. Cylinder undercasing:

• Remove dust.
• To maintain constant airflow.

Types of Cylinder:
There are two types of cylinder.

1. Single cylinder
2. Double cylinder

1. Single cylinder carding machine:

Single cylinder carding machine

Specifications

• Cylinder Dia. 700mm
• Output: 100-250kgs/h
• Power: 18.5kw

Application

• This machine can open various baled fiber,and send to next procedure via fan.
• It opens fiber with pin plate,high production and good quality

A brief feature of single cylinder:

• Single Cylinder Carding Machine, up to 1.5 meters in diameter and up to 2.5 meters in width are produced as normal standard. 

• Cover all types of fiber from very fine to very coarse fiber deniers; fiber lengths up to 120 mm can be processed. Both synthetic and natural fibers of all types can be processed.

• Cylinders up to 1.5 meters in diameter and up to 2.5 meters in width are produced as normal standard. Carding machines outside this size range can be discussed dependent on ard main cylinders are balanced to a surface speed of 1500 meters / per min. 

• All types of carding machines both single and double doffers can be fitted with randomizer rollers or not dependent on customer’s needs. 

• Card wires can be supplied as surface wound or interlocking as required. 

• Card capacity is depending upon card type, fiber denier, types of fiber but can be excess of 800 kgs / per hour. 

• Other details and variables dependent on customer’s needs can be discussed with our technical staff. clients’ individual requirements.

2. Double cylinder carding machine:

Double cylinder carding machine

SPECIFICATION :

• ™ Middle cylinder diameter: Φ850mm,Φ635mm
• ™ Big cylinder diameter:Φ1230mm,Φ1020mm
• ™ Power:35KW

Application:

• Double doffer used for carding and mixing opened chemical fiber and blending material.

New type of double carding m/c

Specifications

• Product Name - double cylinder carding machine
• Working width: 1800mm 2000mm 2200mm 2500mm
• Capacity: 150kg/h 200kg/h 300kg/h
• Dia. of cylinder: 1230mm
• Speed: 20 - 50m/min

Application:

• Various kinds of fiber such as polyester,viscose,nylon,PP,fiberglas,etc

Cylinder Speed:

1. Higher cylinder speed helps fibre transfer. Higher the production, higher should be the cylinder speed.
2. Higher cylinder speed improves carding action, thereby imperfections are reduced

Cylinder Wire Selection:
Cylinder wire selection is very important, it depends upon cylinder speed, the raw material to be processed and the production rate.

The following characteristics of cylinder wire should be considered.

1. Wire angle
2. Tooth depth
3. Wire population
4. Rib thickness
5. Tooth profile
6. Tooth pitch
7. Tooth point
8. Overall wire height

Cylinder Wire Maintenance:

• For a modern cylinder wire of 2mm height, grinding with the normal grinding stone is not recommended. It is better to use TSG grinder to grind the wire every 2nd or 3rd month, so that the sharpness of the wire is always maintained. 

• TSG grinder does not grind the wire, therefore if the wire is worn out very badly the quality improvement using this grinding machine will be nil. Frequent grindings are recommended. If TSG grinder is not available, it is better not to grind 2mm wires. 

• The number of traverse should increase depending upon the life of the wire. The number of traverse for successive grindings should be like this 3, 5, 10, 17 etc. Anyway the best method is to confirm with the microscope. If the grinding is not sufficient, the number of traverse should be increased.

Cylinder Construction in Modern carding
The cylinders of modern carding machines are almost solely welded constructions (Fig. ). They consist of the shell reeled of metal sheet welded along its edges, bottoms with hubs stiffened with ribs, the shaft and the reinforcement rings. Such constructions are used by leading carding machine manufacturers, and particular solutions are different as to the side hubs construction and reinforcement rings

Cylinder Construction

Loads acting on the main cylinder of carding machine
The loads acting on the cylinder result from:

• The influence of fiFIBER on the teeth of card wire during the carding process; the forces are small and are omitted when calculating deflection of the cylinder shell, 

• The construction deadweight and the centrifugal force; their influence on the cylinder deflection may also be neglected due to small rotational speed of the cylinder (circa 100200rpm), 

• Reeling at tension of the metallic card wire.

Tension forces acting on the metallic card wire coils

Reeling at tension S and the reeling pitch t of the card wire on the cylinder with the radius R (Fig. 3) exerts pressure on the cylinder shell directed radially inward with the value of

• Radial pressure = pr
• Force =F
• Surface force =px

Setting between cylinder and doffer
If the setting between cylinder and doffer is very close, the wires will get polished and this will affect the fibre transfer. If the setting is too wide, the fiFIBER will not be transferred to doffer from the cylinder, hence cylinder will get loaded. While processing synthetic fiber cylinder loading will badly affect the yarn quality. Moreover, it is difficult to improve the wire condition if the loading is severe. The only solution would be to change the wire. Therefore enough care should be taken while processing synthetic fiber.

Setting between cylinder and doffer

The setting between cylinder and flat

• The most critical setting in a carding machine is between cylinder and flat tops. While processing cotton, it can be as close as 0.175 mm provided the mechanical accuracy of flat tops is good. 

• Closer the setting between cylinder and flats, better the yarn quality. Neps are directly affected by this setting. Of course, very close setting increase the flat waste. For processing cotton the setting can be 0.25, 0.2, 0.2, 0.2, 0.2mm. For synthetic fiber it can be 0.3, 0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 0.25mm. 

• The setting between cylinder and flats can be as close as possible.

The setting between cylinder and flat

Heal and Toe Arrangement
The top half of the cylinder is surrounded by a series of flats. The flats are also covered with wire teeth, the points of which oppose & are set close to the wire on the cylinder. The setting between flats & cylinder is arranged that there is a wide3r setting at the back or trailing edge on which cotton first reaches for being carded & closer setting at the leading edge where the cotton leaves the flat. This arrangement is generally termed as ‘Heal & Toe’ arrangement.

Heal & Toe’ arrangement

Importance: The object of this type arrangement is to effect a gradual opening & carding of the fibers at each flat.

Historical Perspective of Textiles

Textiles - A Historical Perspective
Umar-Bin-Hossen
Govt. College of Engineering and Textile Technology,
Serampore, West Bengal, India
Email: uhossen@gmail.com 

 

 

The earliest technologies primarily used human hands as the main tools. Thesewere supplemented by other ancillary tools as revealed by archaeological excavations, which yield artifacts made of stone, bone etc. Textiles are an important source of reference for the cultural studies because of their universality. Textiles have always draped the body, whether human/deities/animal, floor and furniture. Unlike stone, clay, metal etc. textiles were traditionally made from biodegradable materials.

Women spinning with a wheel in early century

Textiles are indispensable part of human civilization. Textiles serve the individual, the home and the country. We are all aware that the prime needs of man are food, clothing, shelter.

The word Textile comes from the Latin word ‘Textilis’ and the French word “Texere” pertaining to weaving or to woven-fabric.

It covers all the woven materials whether made of wool, cotton, silk, jute, rayon or other manmade fibres. The variety of materials is simply tremendous. Textiles are so much a part of our daily lives that it is not unusual that we take them for granted. The fabrics that clothe us can be considered a part of us, just as the air we breathe and the environment that surrounds us. In fact, textiles have created a stimulus for man’s indigenousness.

Today, cotton is an integral part of textiles. There are 23 different varieties of cotton. It was a piece of cotton stuck to a silver vase and some spindles discovered in excavations which revealed that the spinning and weaving of cotton was known to the Harrappans, nearly five million years ago.

References to weaving are found in the Vedic literature. Method of spinning, the “arious materials used etc. are also mentioned in these ancients scripts. The history of Textiles is told many times over in the epics, the Puranas, the Graeco- Roman sources of Indian history and the classical Tamil Sangam Literature. Various techniques of weaving, designing, needlework etc. have survived through the centuries. 

 
The foundations of the textile trade began as early as the second century Be. Kalyan, a port, is place in that time from where textiles were exponed. A variety of fabrics, including cotton brocade, is mentioned in Chinese literature as Indian products exponed to China.

Hoard of block printed and resist dyed fabrics, mainly of Gujrati origin, found in the tombs of Fostat, Egypt, are the proof oflarge scale Indian export of cotton textiles to the Egypt in earlier times. They were exported in the early medieval times. Some of these motifs were found similar to those mentioned in the Western Indian manuscripts in the 13th century. There are others, which have resemblance to the block printed fabrics, in Gujarat.

The silk fabric was a popular item of Indian exports to Indonesia · around the 13th century, where these were used as barter for spices. Towards the end of the 17th century, the B~itish East India Company had begun exports of Indian silks and various other cotton fabrics to other countries.

These included the famous fine Muslin cloth of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. The trade in painted and printed cottons or chintz, a favourite in the European market at that time, was extensively practised between India, China, Java and the Philippines, long before the arrival of the Europeans.

Before the introduction of mechanised means of spinning in the early 19th century; all Indian cottons and silks were hand spun and hand woven, a highly popular fabric, called the khadi.

Textile Designing
Textile is the base element of garments and it can also be a spirit of a home or office as it can change the look of an interior layout. It combines the love of colour, painting and drawing with the hands on satisfaction of working with fibre and cloth to make patterns in painted and printed forms.