Masters Degrees in Paper Technology, United Kingdom

The complete Masters (MSc) course in Technical Textiles enables you to develop a high level of understanding of modern technical textiles, preparing you for a career in the textile or related industries as a manager or researcher, or for an academic career.

Graduates of this programme are expected to understand the whole process of converting fibrous materials into the end product and to be able to identify and analyse the appropriate material and production route for a specific end product. You will also have developed the expertise and skill to conduct quality evaluation of textile products.

The complete MSc programme is made up of taught course units and a research dissertation. The taught course units are delivered through a combination of lectures and practical laboratory work.

Special features

The Masters programme in Technical Textiles enables you to develop a high level of understanding of the advanced Technical Textiles sector, preparing you for a career in the textile or related industries as a manager or researcher, or for an academic career.

After successfully completing the programme, you will have gained a thorough grounding and understanding of the whole process of converting fibrous polymeric materials to the end product. This successful delivery to the Technical Textiles sector involves materials performance, Computer Aided Design (CAD), 2D/3D product design and specification, sustainability, effective supply chains and an understanding of diverse product sectors such as textile composites, protective wear, filtration, sportswear, medical textiles and the integration of electronics into textile structures.

Coursework and assessment

You will be assessed by a combination of exams and coursework. The coursework supports the development of your transferable skills such as literature review and report writing. You will complete your MSc programme with a dissertation project. Your dissertation is an opportunity to apply your learning on a five-month technical textiles project. It also enables you to further develop your knowledge and skill in your chosen field. Your choice of topic, in consultation with your personal tutor, will range in purpose from investigatory and problem-solving work, through studies of state-of-the-art technology and current practice, to experimental and analytical research.

Course unit details

 The taught units are:

• Textile Materials and Performance Evaluation
• Yarn Technology
• Applied Manufacturing Processes
• Advanced Manufacturing Techniques
• Technical Textiles
• Advanced Coloration and Performance Evaluation

Textile Materials and Performance Evaluation

This programme unit provides a wide range of topics in textile materials science, performance enhancement and testing that are fundamental for effective functioning in a technical capacity within any textiles or materials related organisation. 

• Nature of man-made and natural fibres.
• Characteristics of fabrics and fabric mechanical properties. Yarn and Nonwovens Technology
• Principles and applications of KES-FB and FAST fabric evaluation systems. Comfort in garment microclimates.
• Dimensional stability, surface modification techniques, oil/water repellency, waterproofing, coating, lamination, flame retardants and smart materials.
• Microscopy and surface analysis.

Yarn and Nonwovens Technology

This programme unit introduces the technologies of producing yarns and nonwovens from staple fibres and continuous filaments and provides knowledge in the quality and quality control aspects of yarn production. 

• Fibre preparation, ring and other modern spinning technologies, texturing, yarn quality control, fancy yarns, composite yarns and yarn preparation.
• Nonwovens web forming technology including dry laying, air laying, wet laying, spun-bonding, melt-blowing. Nonwovens consolidation/bonding technologies; mechanical and chemical bonding; thermal bonding; applications of nonwoven products.

Applied Manufacturing Processes

This programme unit provides a working knowledge of the weaving, knitting and joining processes, types of machinery used, types of fabric structures and associated properties of the product fabrics.

• Fundamentals of weaving. Shuttle and shuttleless looms; multi-phase weaving machines and other modern developments in weaving technology; warp preparation; technical weaving and braiding.
• Classification and analysis of knitting techniques and knitting cycles; patterning and shaping; flat bed, circular, Tricot and Raschel knitting machines; modern knitting techniques; cycle of high-speed circular knitting machines; machine performance; yarn performance and properties in knitting; quality and the dimensions stability of the fabric.
• Fabric joining techniques.

Fundamental Technology and Concepts for Industrial Manufacture

This programme unit provides a working knowledge of concepts of `production for profit', `economy of scale', the importance of the Supply Chain in Textile manufacturing, the importance of pre-competitive research, Design of Experiments(DoE), prototyping and technology transfer and the basics concepts of textile engineering & machine mechanics.

• The fundamentals of engineering & machine mechanics in order to deal with the Technical Textiles end users in Aerospace, Automotive and other industries, sustainability and recycling issues in manufacturing and design.
• The nature of the global traditional and technical textiles industry and concepts relating to successful manufacturing and supply chain. Nature of engineering & chemical industry as opposed to the textile industry. Certification requirements (e.g. Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare, Sportswear), product development in real industrial context, Design of Experiments, quality & inspection, product lifecycles, Sustainable Design. The nature of the research and production environment, individual and team R&D activities.

Technical Textiles - Industrial Applications

This programme unit introduces industrial applications for technical textiles and covers the production and application of textile composites, architectural textiles, geotextiles, automotive textiles, and industrial filtration.

• Composites: Basic concepts, classification, manufacturing techniques-from fibre to composite, textile composites, composite applications, reuse & recycling; geotextiles: basic classification, main functions of a geotextiles, applications; Architectural textiles, concepts of tensegrity structures.
• Automotive Textiles: requirements on automotive textiles including tyre cords, air bags, seat belts and seat fabrics, carpets, trims.
• Principles of filtration, industrial filtration in textile, chemical, food and metallurgical applications.

Technical Textiles - Personal Environment

This programme unit introduces the production and use of technical textiles in human related areas including medical, smart, protective, sportswear, space applications.

• Medical textile materials and structures; application of compression bandage technology for medical care; integrating electronic sensors into medical textiles; knitted electro-textiles.
• Protective Textiles: Bullet proof, stab proof vests. Impact protection: impact mechanism and cellular textile composites. Ballistics and body armour.
• Technical clothing, sportswear, spacewear, sailing equipment.
• Medical and Smart Textiles

Accrediting organisations

Accredited by the Institute of Minerals, Materials and Mining (IOM ³ ) as meeting the Further Learning requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.