Nanotechnology In Clothing (Silic)

Throughout the day, the clothes that we wore were exposed to many things that will cause the clothes to have dirty stains or smelly odours. The main factor for this would be the things that we eat or drink and also the things that we work with. We will have to change our clothes whenever we spilled something on it. However, with the invention of SILIC t-shirts, we do not have to do so as SILIC will keep us clean.

SILIC is a 100% cotton t-shirt that made up with the application of hydrophobic nanotechnology which is water repellent. Water repellency can be attained through impregnation or fabric finishing. Fabrics that are water repellent have open pores that allow liquid water such as air and vapour to penetrate when the hydrostatic pressure is high. As a result, stains and dirt can be simply run off from SILIC.

SILIC is the first self-cleaning t-shirts in clothing industry and it is created by Aamir Patel. In addition, the hydrophobic nanotechnology of SILIC is deemed to transform the whole textile industry. This nanotechnology links billions of silica particles to the fibres of the SILIC t-shirts on a microscopic level. By doing this, most of the liquid molecules would not be permitted to touch the fabric as there is a layer of air between the liquid molecules and fibres of fabric. The fibres of fabric set barriers to any potential trespassers by compressing the particles to 150-degree sphere and sway right off. Hence, SILIC is safe from stains and dirt such as sweat.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2525274/Student-invents-Silic-T-shirt-thats-impossible-stain.html

Unlike the other applications of hydrophobic nanotechnology that might cause cancer or is harmful to our health, we do not have to worry about this in SILIC shirts. According to Daily Mail, founder of SILIC shirts not only emphasis on customer satisfaction but also safety of customer, thus SILIC is completely safe without carcinogenic materials.

 image source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2525274/Student-invents-Silic-T-shirt-thats-impossible-stain.html

As SILIC shirt will still pick up the oil-based stain, so we still have to wash it. It is can be washed by using washing machine or hand. SILIC shirts can be washed up to 80 times before it lose its effectiveness in functioning. Everyone can own a SILIC shirt as it is not expensive, around $40.  I think that everyone afford to own a SILIC shirt as it is not expensive, around $40, it is just the problem of willingness to pay for such a shirt. Currently, Patel is collecting funds through the website Kickstarter for mass production.

Therefore, in my opinion, it actually brings bright future to humanity in a small scale which SILIC t-shirts help to prevent dirt and stains from people, eventually humans are protected from bacteria and diseases. In addition, if such technology able to apply to all fabric, military or medical field and available to everyone in future, it can help to prevent diseases or infections outbreak and human do not need to worry of being affected by any disease anymore.

Written By: Team 3 (Eiu Teng & Liew Ke Zin)

References:

Silic, (2014). About Silic Shirts | Silic Shirts. [online] Silicshirts.com. Available at: http://silicshirts.com/about-silic-waterproof-shirts/ [Accessed 2 Jun. 2015].

Threadsmith, (2015). Threadsmiths Clothing Technology | Hydrophobic T-Shirts | Smart Fabric. [online] Threadsmiths. Available at: http://www.thethreadsmiths.com/ [Accessed 2 Jun. 2015].

 Tuvie, (2015). Silic T-Shirt Self Cleaning Clothing That Resists Stain | Tuvie. [online] Tuvie.com. Available at: http://www.tuvie.com/silic-t-shirt-self-cleaning-clothing-that-resists-stain/ [Accessed 2 Jun. 2015].