1. Introduction

The production of textiles and the construction of clothing are two of the oldest industries, with a traditionally high degree of automation and the use of new energy sources, new types of materials and new production facilities. It is interesting that the basic principles of yarn preparation by twisting and the production of fabrics by intertwining warp and weft threads do not actually differ in principle from the original manual procedures known for thousands of years. Textile machines enabled the realization of the first continuous technologies, and they used punched cards before the development of computer technology; very quickly, the elements of cognitive robots were applied to them when handling materials. Their speeds (with open end spinning up to 200,000 rpm) are extremely high and require the use of special solutions. On the other hand, textiles are directly connected with the three basic human needs, i.e., “food, housing and clothing.” Textile products that satisfy the need for clothing must, therefore, have both a functional (utility) and aesthetic aspect. The aesthetic aspect is related to the shape of the textile on the wearer and its changes when worn (characterized by drape) ^[1].

The need for textiles is generally related to the size of the human population (clothing textiles) and its maturity (technical textile structures). The question now turns to what locations and individuals can ensure this need. The current trend is to realize the production of textiles as close as possible to the sources of raw materials. Competition on world markets and a surplus of mass-produced products from Asian countries are causing a shift in production in Europe and USA towards customer-oriented textile products with new effects, quality and comfort ^[1].

2. Development of Textile Branch

The human population is in daily contact with clothing textiles, using home textiles and textiles for industrial applications (transport, composite structures, filtration and wastewater treatment, electronics, etc.). Thus, the main advantages of textiles as unique products are known, including the following: extremely low density due to high overall porosity (over 70%), unique drape, flexibility and easy formability, resistance to environmental influences (UV, humidity and temperature), abrasion, long-term heat and chemical resistance, low degradation under storage conditions and slow aging under conditions of use. The advantages are also the simple joining and cutting techniques enabling the preparation of “tailor-made” shapes; simple surface modification allowing changes in a number of properties related to interface behavior; layering and combining into structures with controlled geometry; and properties anisotropy, as well as easy maintenance, cleaning and easy reparation.

The developments of textiles and clothing are closely related to both human factors and the influence of civilization. Influences related to human factors can be divided into the following groups ^[2]: Earth’s population growth: The planet’s population is expected to increase to 8.9 billion by 2050. With an expected consumption of 20 kg of textiles per person per year, this amounts to a total of 178 billion tons of textiles per year in 2050 ^[1][3]; Prolongation of life expectancy: Based on a stochastic model, the expected life expectancy in 2050 was found in the range of 80–83 years (USA) and 83–91 years (Japan) ^[4]. This is also related to an increase in the relative share of seniors in society. The category of seniors will have other requirements for a number of textiles related mainly to ensuring their safety with limited mobility (e.g., improved visibility of objects, identifiable edges, etc.); Growth in the share of free time : Free time that can also be spent on activities requiring special textiles (FITNESS and WELNESS); A lifestyle that significantly changes the size range of clothing textiles and also affects the way they are purchased; Civilizational influences that usually have a negative effect on health and require the provision of special barrier functions (against microorganisms, allergies, environmental pollution, etc.); Protection and prevention of health (fitness sports and rehabilitation), which again require special textiles both in clothing and in some products (especially composites).

In the future, the predominant long-term trend can be expected to be the integration of development results in materials, chemistry, physics and engineering for the production of new textile structures for clothing textiles capable of adapting to changes in environmental conditions and special technical textiles with unique properties required for their applications. In the case of textiles for clothing purposes, the aspects of fashion, style and comfort have traditionally prevailed. From the consumer’s point of view, it will be necessary to ensure that these textiles will have the following abilities: Optimal humidity control; Heat flow control; Air breathability control; Improved thermal insulation properties; Water vapor permeability (diameter 0.4 μm), but not liquid water (diameter 100 μm) permeability; Protection against dangerous influences from the environment (microorganisms and ultraviolet UV radiation); Ecological production and disposal of used textiles (biodegradability); Self-cleaning effects and dust repellency; Improved wear resistance (abrasion); Support of health care (vital functions and healing processes); Support of cosmetic functions (regenerative processes on the skin); Easy maintenance including cleaning and ironing; Improved hand, aesthetic sensations and appearance even after several cycles of use and maintenance; Controlled active identifiability of textiles in conditions of low visibility. The new linear composite for line economic lighting (worldl patent WO 2014 / 071898A1) .is shown in fig.1.

Figure 1. Line economic lighting

In the field of technical textiles, the situation is usually simpler, as the requirements for their properties can often be precisely specified according to the intended purpose of use ^[5]. The general requirements for technical textiles for industrial use and composites include the following.

3. Production of Yarns and Fabrics

The weight of a typical cotton fiber with a length of 2.5 cm and a fineness of 1.5 dtex is only 3.8 micrograms. In one square meter (the area of human skin is about 1.5 m 2) of finer cotton fabric with a basis weight of 150 g/m 2, there are 39.5 million fibers. During the preparation for spinning and during the production of the yarn, this amount of fibers is handled (loosening, cleaning, mixing, carding, drawing and twisting). Similarly, in weaving, a relatively large length of yarn must be intertwined. It is, therefore, clear that machinery must be relatively sophisticated and, above all, capable of producing large quantities of textiles in a period of short time ^[6].

Ring spinning, based on the same principle as hand spinning on a spinning wheel, still remains the dominant method of yarn production worldwide ^[7]. The fibers are mechanically transformed (loosening, cleaning, mixing, carding, stretching and combing) into a linear structure— sliver. It is processed by drafting, twisted in the system ring—runner—spindle into the form of yarn, which is wound on a bobbin. The ring spinning yarn has a structure characterized in particular by the presence of protruding fibers (hairiness) (see Figure 2 ).

Figure 2. Structure of Novaspin, ring and open-end yarns.

The core of the rotor spinning system is the rotor (see Figure 2 b). In the rotor, the fibers slide along its wall into the collecting groove where a fiber ribbon is formed. After introducing the free end of the yarn into the rotor, yarn is formed. It is, thus, a discontinuous system of disintegration into fibers, their transport and re-association with twisting ^[8][9]. The rotor spinning yarn has a structure with typical wraps, is stiffer and the yarn strength is usually 20 to 30% lower compared to ring spinning yarns ^[10] (see Figure 2 ). During fiber separation and their deformation in the rotor, the fiber breaks appear ^[11][12]. The mechanics of the functioning of rotor machine and the influence of some of the process parameters were comprehensively investigated ^[13]. Rotor technology is used mainly for manufacturing coarser yarns ^[7]. The main challenge was to use rotor spinning for the creation of cotton yarns and for the prediction of their properties. The influence of cotton fiber properties on selected properties of open-end yarn was investigated comprehensively in work ^[14]. The basic construction parameters of yarns were yarn count and yarn twist characterized by the Phrix twist coefficient. From these parameters, the structural characteristics such as packing density, orientation and mean surface helix angle were predicted. Total numbers of 180 cotton rotor yarns were prepared from seventeen kinds of cottons in five levels of yarn count and two levels of Phrix twist coefficient. For the prediction of yarn strength and mass unevenness based on fiber quality and yarn structural parameters, the dimension reduction approach combined with linear regression was used. It was found that yarn strength is critically dependent on fiber strength as was in accordance with the majority of models presented in work ^[15]. The simple models for yarn strength prediction based on the reduction in fiber strength by the multiplicative factors from orientation, Poisson ratio and volume fraction (see ^[16][17]) combined with linear regression was used as well. The influence of process parameters was “hidden” in yarn fineness, and process parameters were not as important as fiber strength. Yarn unevenness (mass variation between portions of yarn with lengths 0.8 mm) was critically dependent on yarn packing density, fiber helix angle in yarn, number of fibers in yarn and fiber length parameters (upper half mean length). The complex criterion of cotton fibers quality correlated significantly with yarn unevenness. Coarser yarns with lower packing density were more uneven. These results were not generalized due to practical range of technological parameters of yarn creation (yarn count and yarn twist), but they were in accordance with the conclusions obtained from experiments with other types of cotton yarns ^[18].The first prototype of the BD 200 rotor spinning device and rotor spinning unit are shown in  Figure 3. [12].

Figure 3. (a) The first open-end spinning machine BD 200 and (b) section by a rotor spinning unit.

At present time, the production of yarn on a ring spinning machine is about 20 m of yarn per minute and the range of processed fineness is 5–300 tex. On a rotor spinning machine, the yarn production is about 350 m of yarn per minute, and the range of fineness processed is 10–500 tex. There are also other principles of spinning (friction, Vortex, etc.), where the production of yarn is even higher, but their application (depending on the qualitative characteristics of the yarn) is so far only limited ^[19]. The principles of rotor and ring spinning will probably be maintained as the most applied in the future ^[20].

Major technigue for preparation of planar (2D) structures are weaving by usng of looms. In conventional shuttle looms, the weft threads are inserted with a shuttle (typical weight 300 g) carrying a spool of weft thread inside. The shuttle is given a high acceleration at the beginning and is stopped abruptly at the end (after the weft is inserted). This is followed by mechanical beating of the weft to the front of the fabric and contacting the warp at the contact points of the fabric by means of an impact mechanism weighing several hundred kilograms. The weaving sequence is thus discontinuous and the weft insertion takes place regularly from left to right and back during each weaving cycle. The weft is uninterrupted after inserting, so that solid edges are formed. The speed of weft insertion in modern shuttle looms is around 650 m / min and the noise level is around 92-107 dB. High speed air and water jets used for weft insertion were patented and realized at VÚTS Liberec. The first 45 cm wide air jet (see. Figure 4.) was demonstrated in December 1952.

Figure 4. The first air jet loom in the world.

Currently the most productive loom in the world CAMEL ADAPTIVE (speed 700 rpm) from the same institute is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Air jet loom CAMEL ADAPTIVE.

The latest breakthrough solution in the field of jet weaving is the DIFA weaving loom for the production of 3D layered fabrics composed of two woven layers (distance between layers 12 - 50 cm) connected by binding threads.

In the field of nanofibrous layers preparation (very thin special 2D) fabric a many of technologies based mainly on the principle of needle electrospinning and needle less electrospinning were invented.The original patented principle of production of nanofibrous assembly (US Patent 2005, Wo2005024101) realized under name Nanospider is currently further modified (especially on TUL), modifications are protected by a number of other patents and laboratory, pilot plant and operational equipment are implemented (Figure 6.).

Figure 6. Modification of the NANOSPIDER system a) rotating cylindrical electrode with a pits on surface, b) wire electrode, c rotating wire electrode.

4. Future of the Textile Industry

The textile industry of the future will be focused on the following areas: Implementation of ecological production (not worsening the environment and not endangering life on earth); Reducing the share of waste from production (waste-free technologies, regeneration, recuperation and reuse); Reducing energy consumption (alternative reaction media, process optimization and alternative energy sources); Use of renewable resources (biotechnology and green chemistry); Elimination or replacement of toxic compounds (new solvents and replacement of heavy metals); Disposal of waste and used products (biodegradation, reuse of raw materials and special disposal).

In general, it is economical to use fewer machines with higher production speeds while maintaining product quality. That is why technologies with higher production speeds are developed and will be used. The two basic principles, i.e., rotor and ring spinning machines, will most probably be important for the production of yarns in the future ^[19]. Other principles will be used for special needs. This is the case of the most intensive yarn production system, Bobtex, using adhesive bonding (production speed around 700 m/min). The production speed of Bobtex is followed by the Dreft friction spinning system and the Vortex jet spinning system ^[7].

Textile technologies still have the potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 25% ^[2]. Thus, the search for new technologies with lower energy consumption (bio processes, catalytic processes and use of alternative energy sources), reduction in machine weight, reduction in reaction volumes, application of regulation and optimal control, effective insulation of machines and thermal energy transfer systems can be expected. The persisting basic and simple method for heat transfer by conduction using air and water is already supplemented by IR heating (many polymer fibers have absorption bands in the near IR region) and microwave heating (based on rapid changes in polarity-rotation of polar molecules). Microwave heating requires 10 to 100 times less energy than conventional heating. In IR heating, the surfaces of the materials are heated first and the edges and inner parts of the materials are heated first in microwave heating. By combining both types of heating, increasingly even heating of the entire volume can be obtained. Another possibility of intensive (local) heating of surfaces and thin subsurface layers is the use of plasma ^[21] or laser for local intensive heating until local surface destruction ^[22].

There is no universal solution yet, but water consumption will probably need to be severely reduced in the future ^[1]. During the solution of water consumption problems, the concept of “virtual water” should necessarily be focused on. Virtual water is defined as water that is only required for processing a fabric ^[23].