Abstract

In addition to the use of various organic and inorganic materials for textile finishing, polymeric materials are also widely applied in the molecular, nano-, or bulk form to modify textile substrates. This ranges from film-forming polymers coating the fiber surface acting as hand builders, to the incorporation of polymers with functional properties imparting various functionalities into textiles. Moreover, polymers have been used as fixing agents to impart stability to fabrics or to stabilize other finishing agents on the fibers providing durable finishing. The objective of the current entry is to introduce different polymers used for textile functional finishing, from the earliest application of antimicrobial polymers such as chitosan for creating antibacterial properties and fluoropolymers for repellent finishes, to the current use of smart polymers obtaining novel functional textiles with wide application area. Moreover, with the advent of nanotechnology nanopolymers including polymers in nanoscale range, polymer nanocomposites and nanofibers are gaining increased attention. The progressive trend in the modification of textile substrates by novel polymers provides the opportunity to obtain desired textile characteristics such as hand modification, durability, water repellency, waterproof, superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, flame retardant, and antimicrobial and electrical conductivity, suitable for direct apparel and textile usage to several industrial applications such as military, transportation, automotive, construction, agriculture, packaging, and sport.