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Time Business News
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
How Many Types of Fabric are There in Textiles?
Fabric – Textiles is a generic and heterogeneous industry with a vast array of materials, each with its characteristics, touch, and usage differently available. Ranging from natural cotton and silk to man-made polyester and nylon, the choice is unlimited. Weaved and sourced-based, textiles are classified in a way that they are utilised in different industries such as fashion, interior design, and technical textiles. With such differences, it is possible to select the most suitable material for specific purposes. Among the top performers in the industry, T & A textiles and hosiery UK is especially noteworthy due to its imagination and skills. This study enumerates the different types of fabrics, their properties, and applications in our day-to-day life. Usually made from petrochemicals, synthetic fabrics produced by people provide flexibility and robustness. Polyester, frequently used in activewear and home design, is a prevalent synthetic fabric resistant to shrinking and creases. Popular fabric for clothes and athletic wear, nylon is renowned for its resilience and adaptability. Typically seen in blankets and knitwear, warm and inexpensive acrylic imitates wool. Since it offers great stretch, spandex, also known as Lycra, is critical for fitted clothes and sportswear. Due to its absorbent qualities, ultra-soft synthetic microfiber finds use in cleaning rags and upholstery. Though sturdy, synthetic materials' environmental effects are becoming more worrisome, so guiding new concepts, including recycled fibres. Mixed textiles combine natural and synthetic fibres to improve comfort and performance. Since it blends the softness of cotton with the durability of polyester, poly-cotton—a combination of polyester and cotton—has become a sought-after choice for everyday usage. Semi-synthetic cellulose-based rayon, sometimes employed in linings and gowns, imitates silk and cotton. A sustainable blend of fibre noted for its breathability and moisture-wicking qualities, Tencel is a type of lyocell. Including acrylic or nylon, wool blends raise fabric durability and lower pilling. These mixes economically meet several textile demands without compromising quality. Thanks to continuous developments in fabric blending technology, today's consumers have sustainable, high-performance alternatives. Speciality fabrics are designe for particular applications such as waterproofing, flame resistance, or UV protection. Widely employed in outdoor equipment and sportswear, waterproof yet breathable fabric Gore-Tex is used in protective clothes and bulletproof vests made of the high-strength synthetic fibre Kevlar. A rubber-based insulating fabric discovered often found in wetsuits and laptop covers, is neoprene. Because of its strength, non-woven felt is used in technical and decorative textiles, including metallic fabrics created from metal threads, industry, caps, and crafts. These fabrics serve niche markets by providing sophisticated qualities that regular textiles cannot deliver, hence they are essential in certain sectors. Offering stretch and mobility, knitted fabrics are made by interlocking yarn loops. T-shirts and informal wear frequently include the lightweight, soft fabric Jersey knit. With its raised vertical lines, rib knit offers great elasticity, so it is perfect for collars and cuffs. Often used in sweaters for a more textured appearance, cable knit has a braided design. A soft knitted fabric, fleece provides warmth and is widely use in blankets and cold-weather clothing. With its open weave, mesh knit is use in lingerie and sportswear for ventilation. Eco-friendly fabrics are becoming more well-known as people become more aware of their surroundings. Grown free of pesticides, organic cotton preserves quality and lowers ecological damage. Derived from bamboo pulp, bamboo fabric is soft, antibacterial, biodegradable, and natural. Made from plastic bottles, recycled polyester helps cut waste and energy use. Requiring little water and no pesticides, hemp is a sustainable substitute for traditional textiles. Fashion items made from pineapple leaves provide a cruelty-free alternative. These materials satisfy consumer need for ethical and environmentally friendly textiles while also supporting the worldwide move toward sustainability. The textile industry provides a wide selection of materials with special qualities suited for various purposes. From natural and artificial to blended and speciality textiles, the options are limitless. Knowing these differences enables one to make wise decisions for clothes, home design, or industrial application. As sustainability takes front stage, creative eco-friendly fabrics are steering the direction. In order to guarantee a mix of tradition and modernity in the always changing world of fabrics, companies are essential suppliers of high-quality textiles. Visit timebusinessnews for more informative blogs. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
India Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
India-Pakistan, 2002: When it was close to war
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated Dec 23, 2002)Last Christmas, fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force's No. 1 Tiger Squadron of Mirage-2000 H aircraft were not in celebratory mode. Moved a week earlier from home base Gwalior to the forward base Adampur near Jalandhar, the Tigers packed pistols, high-protein Swiss chocolates and a quarter-inch map of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). These would come in handy in case any of them was shot down behind enemy comrades in arms, the Indian Army's para-commandos, looked like the US marines with war paint, MP-5 sub-machine guns, infrared night-vision devices, Kevlar bulletproof jackets and hi-tech frequency-hopping radio sets. For the past week, the two elite forces had been secretly conducting mock raids in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir. This was not a routine exercise. It was preparation for war. Just how close India actually came to war, not once but twice, is emerging only now, and INDIA TODAY was able to piece together key all began on December 13, 2001, when Pakistan-based terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Indian Parliament, killing nine people. As the real intent of the strike sunk in and evidence of Pakistan's involvement mounted, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee made it clear that India's patience had worn At a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the three service chiefs on December 15, Vajpayee asked the service chiefs, "Can we do something quickly?" All three responded in the affirmative. The CCS—comprising Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, the then external affairs minister Jaswant Singh, finance minister Yashwant Sinha, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Planning Commission Chairman K.C. Pant and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra—agreed on a strike against PoK-based 14, 2002: FIRST CHANCEOrders were immediately issued to mobilise troops—more than those in the run-up to the 1971 war. Considering that it would take three to four weeks for deployment on the western borders, the armed forces planned action for the second week of January 2002. After much debate, the service chiefs opted for a limited offensive against the terrorists' training camps in would essentially entail air force strikes to pulverise zones with a high concentration of camps—that's where the Tiger Squadron came in. A limited ground offensive by special forces of the army would further neutralise the camps and help occupy dominant positions on the LoC. D-day was tentatively fixed for January Delhi's war calculus, limited action in PoK made sense as it would not only convey the Indian resolve to Pakistan but also keep international retribution to manageable levels. India, after all, was only taking a leaf out of the ongoing US action against Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaida terrorists in Afghanistan. The daunting prospect of Pakistan launching an all-out offensive in response to the Indian action weighed heavily on the the intelligence assessment that the Pakistani Army was not well prepared loaded the dice in India's favour. This meant that the chances of Pakistan launching a full-scale war were minimal. The Indian plans were also backed by a sound economy that was bolstered by low inflation, high forex and petroleum reserves. Sinha went on record saying the economy was prepared for war even though it was the last option.A limited strike was a clever tactical option. The build-up indicated to the world, especially the US, that India was serious. If Pakistan wasn't reined in, India would have no option. Delhi also stepped up the diplomatic offensive, recalling its high commissioner and banning civilian flights from Pakistan. Picking up the war signals, Pakistan went into hypermode: it began mobilising forces and exchanged frantic calls with the US, getting President George W. Bush into the of State Colin Powell called India and Pakistan to cool down temperatures. British Prime Minister Tony Blair even flew to India in the first week of January to say that they were leaning on Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf. As proof, the US declared LeT and JeM as terrorist groups. Advani, meanwhile, flew to the US on January 8, where he was briefed on the contents of Musharraf 's impending landmark speech. The speech finally came on January 12, when Musharraf declared that terrorism in the name of Kashmir was unjustified. Practically giving in to Indian demands, he also announced plans to regulate madarsas and ban known terrorist groups operating out of Musharraf's speech, there was another factor that shot down the CCS plans of an immediate war when it met on moved out most terrorist training camps from PoK in January, implying that the Indian forces would have to cross the international borders to achieve militarily significant results. This was risky as it would show India as an aggressor and could invite global intervention on Kashmir. So the CCS decided to give Musharraf another chance but keep the armed forces fully mobilised for war. And in a symbolic gesture on January 14, the Tiger Squadron destroyed an "enemy" bunker at Pokhran in Rajasthan with a laser-guided 10, 2002: SECOND SHOTThe readiness strategy paid off when Pakistan's terrorist groups struck again on May 14. Storming into the army residential quarters at Kaluchak cantonment in Jammu, they killed 22 women and children. Even before the killings, India had accused Pakistan of failing to keep its promise on ending cross-border terrorism. A day after the massacre, a visibly tense Vajpayee told Parliament, "Hamein pratikar karna hoga (We will have to counter it)."On May 18, Vajpayee, along with Fernandes, was briefed on military preparedness by Director-General Military Operations Lt-General S.S. Chahal and Military Intelligence Chief Lt-General O.S. Lochab. Later, after a two-hour meeting, the CCS favoured military action against terrorists in political leadership apparently wanted limited action similar to the one in January. But after evaluating various military options, it was decided that action in PoK was not viable as Pakistan had beefed up its forces across the LoC. Any action limited to forays across the LoC would translate into minimum military gains and would risk attrition in the Indian forces. The military, however, favoured an all-out offensive that would stretch Pakistani troops across the international borders and give India an opening in the armed forces came up with a daring plan: destroy Pakistan's war-waging potential and pulverise the terror factories in PoK. The June canvas was bigger than the January one, since Pakistan had packed areas north of Chenab with forces and military logic dictated the battle should not be confined to the LoC. But there were serious limitations to the plans that worried the political bosses. With the monsoons imminent, the armed forces warned that the window for attack was extremely narrow. Any miscalculation could see the offensive bogged down with disastrous as the debate raged, the military made its plans. The launch of the offensive was entrusted to Strike Corps I led by Lt-General J.J. Singh, who had directed military operations in Kargil war. The IAF, along with Strike Corps I, would initiate action in the Shakargarh bulge and engage Pakistan's Army Reserve North (ARN) spread from Muzaffarabad in PoK to the Shekhopura-Lahore area. The idea was to lock Pakistan's key strike corp in battle that was essentially a boxer's feint. The real offensive would be in PoK by strike formations moved in from the east and tasked to capture strategic points used by Pakistan to push in period considered for limited strikes was between May 23 and June 10. On May 22, at Kupwara brigade headquarters near the LoC Vajpayee declared that "it was time for a decisive battle". A day later, the CCS met to assess the readiness of the country's key sectors in the event of a war. An economic review was also undertaken: Sinha said India's economy was a hundred times stronger than Pakistan's to bear hostilities, and RBI Governor Bimal Jalan pointed to a low inflation rate of 1.56 per cent and all-time high forex reserves of $55 billion (Rs 2,64,000 crore) to tide over the crisis. The crude oil and petroleum stock reserves, which should sustain the country for more than a month in a war, were also the CCS endorsing a strike, Vajpayee wrote to Bush, Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Jacques Chirac, saying Musharraf had failed to deliver on his January 12 speech and that India's patience was running out. Hectic diplomacy followed as Bush, Putin, Blair and even Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called and pleaded with Vajpayee not to take the extreme step. The global community conveyed to Delhi that it would impress on Musharraf to clarify his promise on stopping cross-border June was an option considered seriously by the Vajpayee Government is borne out by the Defence Ministry's SOS for defence supplies to Israel during the month. But the global community urged restraint as it was worried Pakistan would use the nuclear card to address its conventional asymmetry against the Indian armed forces. Musharraf had already played the nuclear brinkmanship—hinting he would use nukes against India—in an interview to German magazine Der Spiegel in April. Pakistan had even tested three missiles—Ghauri (N-capable), Ghaznavi and Abdali—between May 25 and 28 as a deterrent to India's belligerence forced India to review its N-capability to strike back—Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman Anil Kakodkar and Defence Research and Development Organisation Secretary V.K. Aatre reportedly participated in a CCS meeting in late May. In the absence of any formalised strategic force command, the nuclear strategy was handled on a need-to-know basis by Mishra, who reportedly attended an AEC meeting on May 24 in Chennai and later flew to Manali to brief nuclear theatrics also led to Powell calling Musharraf five times in the last week of May and reading the riot act to him. Bush sent Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to Pakistan on June 5. He apparently asked Musharraf three times whether he would "permanently" end cross-border infiltration and help dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. He conveyed Musharraf's commitment to Powell while flying to Delhi on June 6, and to India, on June 10, Powell disclosed Musharraf's promise to the world, by which time India had already called off its strike plans. The political logic was understandable as a full-frontal attack would translate into war. It was better to give Musharraf another chance. Or perhaps, the build-up was a shrewd ploy by India, not only in June but also in January, to force Pakistan as well as the world community into week, Fernandes denied (to INDIA TODAY) that India had been on the brink of war, claiming that at no point had the CCS given directions to the armed forces to take action against Pakistan. He, however, did not put it beyond the army generals to prepare for contingency plans. Mishra, on the other hand, reiterated that India had indeed been "close to war" in January and May. While refusing to disclose dates, he pointed out that on June 23, Vajpayee had said in an interview to the Washington Post that it was a "touch and go affair".The Tiger Squadron, on its part, did have its share of action. On August 2, four Mirage fighters evicted Pakistani intruders 800 m across the LoC in Machhil sector of Kashmir. In Washington, it was dubbed Kargil II. The Tigers know that given the murky Indo-Pak relations, all it will take is another carnage for them to be back in air, in to India Today Magazine
Bloomberg
31-03-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
DuPont Considers Sale of Kevlar, Nomex Safety Brands
DuPont de Nemours Inc. is considering a sale of two heat-resistant fiber brands as the chemical manufacturer undergoes a broader overhaul, people with knowledge of the matter said. The Wilmington, Delaware-based company is working with advisers to look at strategic options, including a potential sale, for the Nomex and Kevlar brands, according to the people. The operations could fetch around $2 billion in a sale, some of the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.
NBC Sports
19-03-2025
- Health
- NBC Sports
Skate cut protection gets an emotional hockey dad endorsement at the NHL GMs meeting
MANALAPAN, Fla. — Tom Fitzgerald and wife Kerry watched their son Casey's American Hockey League game on a cellphone at a restaurant bar on Dec. 28 and saw him come out of the corner on an otherwise innocuous play holding his hand to the right side of his neck. He had been cut by a skate blade just above his neck guard and was bleeding when trainers rushed to him and got him into an ambulance. The only update his parents received, from Hartford's trainer through his girlfriend, was that the bleeding was stopped and Casey was on the way to the hospital. 'He called us from the ambulance on the way to the hospital, saying: 'I'm OK. I'm going to be OK,'' Tom Fitzgerald recalled. 'We kind of broke down there.' Casey Fitzgerald survived the skate cut to the neck, which came a little over a year since Adam Johnson died from one while playing in a game in England, and his father - the general manager of the New Jersey Devils - gave an impassioned plea on the subject Tuesday at the NHL GMs meeting. 'I don't wish that on any parent,' Tom Fitzgerald said. 'My message was just: 'Tell the players you don't want your parents potentially going through something like this, how scary it is. Put as much protection on as you possibly can because you're going to stop playing at some point, and you're going to have to live the rest of your life, so live it.'' Fitzgerald's poignant speech to the group comes amid the sport's rapid evolution on neck guards in light of Johnson's tragic death. Cut-resistant neck, wrist and Achilles tendon protection that is now mandated in the U.S. and Canada at youth levels and up through the minors in the ECHL and AHL is available to players but not required at the NHL level. 'We have to move in the direction that we're protecting our players the best we can,' said San Jose GM Mike Grier, who is close to the Fitzgerald family from their sons growing up playing together. 'We have to encourage our players to protect themselves.' The Players' Association would have to agree to any mandate, much like with the decision to grandfather in half-shield face visors just over a decade ago. The union and league have studied the topic for years, and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh has said those conversations are ongoing. 'The joint NHL/NHLPA Protective Equipment Subcommittee provides education to players and teams regarding cut-resistant equipment that is available to all players,' the Players' Association said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Tuesday. 'The NHLPA's emphasis is on making sure players have the necessary information to make informed choices about their equipment. Our membership continues to feel strongly that wearing cut-resistant equipment is a matter of individual preference.' Some prominent skate cuts, such as Erik Karlsson's torn Achilles tendon in 2013, made Kevlar socks more widely used around the NHL. Johnson's death has ramped up production of neck guards to the point that there are more than 30 approved pieces of equipment available for players now. 'In the old days we started this process, 'Oh, I don't want to wear that, it's too tight, it's too restrictive, it's too hot,'' NHL vice president of hockey operations Rod Pasma said. 'Well, there's so many options now to the players that whatever their issues are with a comfort or with a breathability or whatever, there's other options to try.' Pasma gave his annual safety presentation, updating GMs on the cuts and near-misses this season, followed by video clips of them. The last one in the montage was of Casey Fitzgerald, along with photos of the cut to the neck that required 25 stitches. 'They showed the before and after, and I think that's what caught a lot of people's attention of, 'Well, wow' and really how lucky he was,' Tom Fitzgerald said. 'The more I talked the more I started getting choked up a bit just thinking how lucky we are.' Fitzgerald and Grier acknowledged they sound like hypocrites because they chose not to wear visors while playing. But now they are encouraging those on their teams to consider putting on cut-resistant gear. There is a process in place to educate players on skate cut protection: a mandated video of near-misses shown during training camp, when players are provided with their options. Pasma acknowledged players are 'creatures of habit' who want to make their own decisions as professionals, but efforts will likely ramp up to make cut-resistant materials as much a part of hockey as helmets and shin guards. 'Does it go to a place like the visors went to a number of years? I'd say that's got the potential,' Pasma said. 'The good news is, is the players, almost all the players that are coming into the National Hockey League, playing their first game in the National Hockey League have already worn the gear, so they're used to it.' It's nothing new to the Fitzgerald family. Tom made all four of his sons put on Kevlar socks when they got on the ice as kids, telling them, 'If you're not putting them on, you're not playing.' He cannot enforce that mandate with the Devils just yet but hopes Casey's experience is another step toward full neck protection. 'I get worried,' Fitzgerald said. 'Why the players don't think big picture versus just it's about my career today. And if they ever thought of their parents watching what we watched, maybe they'd think differently.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Skate cut protection gets an emotional hockey dad endorsement at the NHL GMs meeting
MANALAPAN, Fla. (AP) — Tom Fitzgerald and wife Kerry watched their son Casey's American Hockey League game on a cellphone at a restaurant bar on Dec. 28 and saw him come out of the corner on an otherwise innocuous play holding his hand to the right side of his neck. He had been cut by a skate blade just above his neck guard and was bleeding when trainers rushed to him and got him into an ambulance. The only update his parents received, from Hartford's trainer through his girlfriend, was that the bleeding was stopped and Casey was on the way to the hospital. 'He called us from the ambulance on the way to the hospital, saying: 'I'm OK. I'm going to be OK,'' Tom Fitzgerald recalled. 'We kind of broke down there.' Casey Fitzgerald survived the skate cut to the neck, which came a little over a year since Adam Johnson died from one while playing in a game in England, and his father — the general manager of the New Jersey Devils — gave an impassioned plea on the subject Tuesday at the NHL GMs meeting. 'I don't wish that on any parent,' Tom Fitzgerald said. 'My message was just: 'Tell the players you don't want your parents potentially going through something like this, how scary it is. Put as much protection on as you possibly can because you're going to stop playing at some point, and you're going to have to live the rest of your life, so live it.'' Fitzgerald's poignant speech to the group comes amid the sport's rapid evolution on neck guards in light of Johnson's tragic death. Cut-resistant neck, wrist and Achilles tendon protection that is now mandated in the U.S. and Canada at youth levels and up through the minors in the ECHL and AHL is available to players but not required at the NHL level. 'We have to move in the direction that we're protecting our players the best we can,' said San Jose GM Mike Grier, who is close to the Fitzgerald family from their sons growing up playing together. "We have to encourage our players to protect themselves.' The Players' Association would have to agree to any mandate, much like with the decision to grandfather in half-shield face visors just over a decade ago. The union and league have studied the topic for years, and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh has said those conversations are ongoing. 'The joint NHL/NHLPA Protective Equipment Subcommittee provides education to players and teams regarding cut-resistant equipment that is available to all players,' the Players' Association said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Tuesday. "The NHLPA's emphasis is on making sure players have the necessary information to make informed choices about their equipment. Our membership continues to feel strongly that wearing cut-resistant equipment is a matter of individual preference.' Some prominent skate cuts, such as Erik Karlsson's torn Achilles tendon in 2013, made Kevlar socks more widely used around the NHL. Johnson's death has ramped up production of neck guards to the point that there are more than 30 approved pieces of equipment available for players now. 'In the old days we started this process, 'Oh, I don't want to wear that, it's too tight, it's too restrictive, it's too hot,'' NHL vice president of hockey operations Rod Pasma said. 'Well, there's so many options now to the players that whatever their issues are with a comfort or with a breathability or whatever, there's other options to try.' Pasma gave his annual safety presentation, updating GMs on the cuts and near-misses this season, followed by video clips of them. The last one in the montage was of Casey Fitzgerald, along with photos of the cut to the neck that required 25 stitches. 'They showed the before and after, and I think that's what caught a lot of people's attention of, 'Well, wow' and really how lucky he was,' Tom Fitzgerald said. 'The more I talked the more I started getting choked up a bit just thinking how lucky we are." Fitzgerald and Grier acknowledged they sound like hypocrites because they chose not to wear visors while playing. But now they are encouraging those on their teams to consider putting on cut-resistant gear. There is a process in place to educate players on skate cut protection: a mandated video of near-misses shown during training camp, when players are provided with their options. Pasma acknowledged players are 'creatures of habit' who want to make their own decisions as professionals, but efforts will likely ramp up to make cut-resistant materials as much a part of hockey as helmets and shin guards. 'Does it go to a place like the visors went to a number of years? I'd say that's got the potential,' Pasma said. "The good news is, is the players, almost all the players that are coming into the National Hockey League, playing their first game in the National Hockey League have already worn the gear, so they're used to it.' It's nothing new to the Fitzgerald family. Tom made all four of his sons put on Kevlar socks when they got on the ice as kids, telling them, 'If you're not putting them on, you're not playing.' He cannot enforce that mandate with the Devils just yet but hopes Casey's experience is another step toward full neck protection. "I get worried," Fitzgerald said. "Why the players don't think big picture versus just it's about my career today. And if they ever thought of their parents watching what we watched, maybe they'd think differently.' ___ AP NHL:
