Looking forward to the future it is clear that today's narrow concept of fiber as a basic element for textiles, ropes and nets will become an outmoded notion. The emphasis will instead shift to new and exciting developments in fiber technology and their applications, exploring such fields as biomimetics, nanotechnology and biodegradability.

This book describes and identifies the scope of high-tech fibers. The contributors review the present status and prospects of the fiber/textile technology and review high performance fibers from origin to future applications, including carbon fiber. The themes of the book are summarized with a discussion on health care and the environment.

As the 21st century progresses fibers will enter into more novel and unexpected applications. The age is approaching where wearable computer and organic electroluminescence wearable displays are no longer a product of science fiction. New potential is open in the fields of car and aerospace industry, civil engineering, separation membranes using hollow fibers for artificial organs, biodegradable fiber for ecological conservation and fibers with biological functions.