First generation Textiles
Spinning
Weaving
Processing
Backstrap-weaving
Cotton hand-picking
Hand
spinning
They have come a long way!
Second generation textile
invention of synthetic fibers
Where would you like to go today?
Third generation textiles
include technical textiles, smart
fabrics, performance textiles, etc.
Electronic textiles, also known as etextiles is one such new field of
textile
New Paradigm
Since the 19th Century, revolutionary
changes have been occurring at an
unprecedented rate in science and
technology with a profound impact on our
lives
Inventions of ICs, computers, the Internet,
discovery and complete mapping of the
human genome, and many more have
transformed the entire world
We have also learnt a lot from nature!
Textiles Materials for Every
Need
Optimized moisture
management
Better heat flow
control
Improved thermal
insulation
Breathability
High performance
in hazard
protection
Environmental
friendly
Increased abrasion
resistance
Health control and
healing aid
Body control
Easy care
High aesthetic
appeal
Enhanced handle
High/low visibility
Smart textile materials
The different types of Smart textile
materials are:
1) Phase Change Material,
2) Chromic Colors,
3) Shape memory materials,
4) Auxetic material,
5) Electronic textile
E-Textiles
"Electronic textiles (e-textiles) are
fabrics that have electronics and
interconnections woven into
them,with physical flexibility and size
that cannot be achieved with existing
electronic manufacturing techniques.
ADVANTAGES OF e-TEXTILES
Flexible
No wires to snag environment
Large surface area for sensing
Invisible to others
Cheap manufacturing
Durabilit
y
HIGH
PERFORMANCE
Comfort
Appearan
ce
Retention
Protection
Engineered/Smart Textile
Materials
Sustainable
Resource
No Environmental
Harm
Safe Human Use
Smart/interactive textiles (SIT) are
materials and structures that sense
and react to environmental
conditions or stimuli, such as those
from mechanical, thermal, chemical,
electrical, magnetic or other
SIT are no longer a science-fiction
sources.
fantasy. For example, there are in the
market self-cleaning carpets, memoryshaped and environment-responsive
textiles, and anti-insomniac microfibers.
According to the manner of reaction,
SIT can be divided into:
Passive smart materials, which can
only sense the environmental
condition or stimuli,
Active smart materials, which sense
and react to the condition or stimuli,
Very smart materials, which can
sense, react and adapt themselves
accordingly, and
Intelligent materials, which are those
capable of responding or activated to
perform a function in a manual or preprogrammed manner
How Intelligent Material works
Respons
e or
Action
The sensors provide a
Sensing
nerve
system to detect
signals
The processor
Processing
analyzes
and
evaluates the signals
The actuators act upon
theActuation
detected and
evaluated signal either
directly or from a
central control unit
CONTROLLING
Trigger or
Stimuli
Fundamental building blocks of etextile system
Interconnected Architecture
Hardware Integration
Platform
Software
Performance metrix
Areas of R & D
For sensors - actuators:
photo-sensitive materials
fibre optics
conductive polymers
thermal sensitive materials
shape memory materials
intelligent coating materials
chemical responsive materials
micro-capsules
micro- and nano-materials
Areas of R & D
(2)
For signal transmission, processing
and control:
neural networks and control systems
cognition theory and systems
For integrated processes and
products:
wearable electronics and photonics
adaptive and responsive structures
bio-mimics
tissue engineering
chemical/drug releasing
Conductive Textile
Materials
The conductive fibres are of two types,
viz. electrical conductive fibres
optical conductive fibre
electrical conductive fibres
Naturally conductive fibres
developed
from electrically conductive metals
such as ferrous alloys, nickel,
stainless steel, titanium, aluminium,
copper and carbon.
diameter ranging from 1 to 80
microns.
very expensive
their brittle characteristics can
damage spinning machinery over
time
Heavier than most textile fibres
making homogenous blend difficult
to produce.
optical conductive fibres
optical conductive fibres use perfloro
polymers
120 microns in diameter
carry signals in the form of pulse
of light.
Conductive fibres used for the
development of military clothing,
motion capturing and in tracking of
objects
Properties of optical conductive
fibres
excellent strength
sunlight resistance
relatively stiff possessing poor
flexibility
drapability and abrasion resistance
uses
fibres can be woven in to fabrics
to form radiation shields,
Optical filters
bar codes.
SPEEDO FABRIC (SHARK
SKIN)
polyamide and Lycra fibre coated
with Teflon
knitted with 3-dimenssional V-shaped
groove with 3-D knitting principal.
the friction between water and
swimmer is negligible and drag up to
zero
Increases the efficiency of the
swimmer by 8-10%
SMART INTERIORS
SOFT switch allows switching and
pressure sensing to be incorporated
invisibly into interior textiles
to control lighting, security,
temperature or other electronic
appliances n homes and offices
Light switches/dimmers can be
integrated into seating upholstery or
carpets
Audio-visual remote controls can be
incorporated into soft furnishings
GEORGIA TECH WEARABLE
MOTHERBOARD (SMART SHIRT)
SMART MILITARY
UNIFORM
uniform is equipped with optical
fibers
detect an injury such as by bullet and
send information to the concerned
center.
signals magnitude would depend on
the force applied on the fiber
Help in reaching or locating injured
soldiers in the battlefield or rescue
operation.
US military
Uniform contains protective gear and
body armor and computer.
headgear shows battle plans soldier
position transmitted over a wireless LAN.
The radio cum computer on the back or on
the arms is powered by lithium battery
At chest, another strap contains Solider
Control Unit for interfacing with computer.
MP3 PLAYER WOVEN INTO THE
FABRIC
MP3 player are directly
integrated in the fabric
of clothing
withstand even a
washing of the clothing
without being damaged
integrated components
are encapsulated in
robust plastic enclosures
SMART SCREEN
flexible fibre-optic screen that can be
woven into clothes
screen is like a simple fabric, onto
which users can download all kinds of
visuals from the Internet or
computers
flexible remote
control hidden in a
lapel could trigger
the displays
use in bags,
scarves and
furnishings
MUSICAL FABRICS
fabric pianos or wearable percussions
pads provide new ways of interacting
and creating sound.
Bio-mimics
Fibers have been developed that
can quickly change their color,
hue, depth of shade or optical
transparency by application of an
electrical or magnetic field could
have applications in coatings,
additives
or electrical
stand alone
fibers.
Varying the
or magnetic
field changes the
optical properties of certain oligomeric and
molecular moieties by altering their absorption
coefficients in the visible spectrum as a result of
changes
in their
molecular
structure.
The change
in color
is due to
the absence of specific
wavelengths of light; it varies due to structural
changes with the application of an electromagnetic
field.
Implications for Research
Protective textile materials benefit from the
development of a myriad of high-performance,
thermal-stable fibers, and woven composites
(passive systems)
Protective clothing can greatly improve
performance by adding smart/interactive
features
Smart thermal protective clothing:
Detection of vital signals
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Wireless, hands-free communication
Cooling warming system
Incorporated warning signaling
Detection of Vital Signals
Sensatex is developing a SmartShirt
System specifically for the protection
of public safety personnel, namely
firefighters, police officers, and rescue
teams. Used in conjunction with a
wireless-enabled radio system, the
SmartShirt can monitor the health
and safety of public safety
personnel/victims trapped in a
building or underneath rubble with
the ability to detect the exact location
of victims through positioning
capability. In addition to monitoring
vital signs, the system can detect the
extent of falls, and the presence of
hazardous gases; it also offers twoway voice communication
Smart Shirt
Medical monitoring
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Individual Athletes/Team sports
Continuous home monitoring
Remote patient examination
Infant vital sign monitoring
Sleep studies monitoring
Vital sign monitoring for mentally ill patients
Protecting public Safety Officers
Battlefield combat care solutions
micro-encapsulation
technique
next generation Smart fibrous materials
Sensors positioned on etextiles
Some innovative Biomedical Etextiles
Life-Shirt
Mamagoose pyjamas
Smart Socks:
Smart Bra
Global Positioning System
(GPS)
Textiles integrated with sensory
devices driven by a GPS can
detect a users exact location
anytime and in any weather.
Interactive electronic textiles
with integrated GPS enhance
safety by quickly locating the
wearer and allowing the suit to
be heated. GPS can provide
added safety for firefighters and
emergency personnel by
facilitating offsite monitoring of
vitals
Wireless, hands-free
communication
Fabric area networks (FANs) enable electronic devices to
exchange digital information, power, and control signals
within the users personal space and remote locations. FANs
use wireless RF communication links using currents
measuring one nanoamp; these currents can transmit data
at speed equivalent to a 2400-baud modem
Cooling Warming System
A new high-tech vest has been developed to
help keep soldiers, firefighters, etc. alive in
the searing temperatures of deserts, mines
and major fires. The vest uses a personal
cooling system (PCS), which is based on heat
pipe technology which works by collecting
body heat through vapor filled cavities in a
vest worn on the body. The heat is then
transferred via a flexible heat pipe to the
atmosphere with the help of an evaporative
cooling heat exchanger. The heat exchanger
is similar in principle to a bush fridge where a
cold cloth is put over a container and the
temperature drop caused by evaporation
keeps the food cool. It is designed to be worn
by personnel underneath NBC (nuclear,
biological and chemical) clothing, body armor
and other protective clothing.
Warning Signaling
A combination of sensors and small flexible light emitting
displays (FLED) can receive and respond to stimuli from the
body, enabling a warning signal to be displayed or sent. The
sensors can monitor EKG, heart rate, respiration,
temperature, and pulse oximetry readings. If vital signals
were below critical values, a FLED would automatically
display, for example, a flashing red light, and a wireless
communication system could send a distress signal to a
remote location.
Chromic Materials
Change their colour reversibly according
to external environmental conditions
Photochromic: external stimulus is
light.
Thermochromic: external stimulus is
heat.
Electrochromic: external stimulus is
electricity.
Piezorochromic: external stimulus is
pressure.
Solvatechromic: external stimulus is
liquid or gas.
Luminescent Materials
Emits lights according to
external environmental
conditions
Photoluminescence:
external stimulus is light
Electroluminescence:
external stimulus is
electricity
Chemioluminescence:
external stimulus is a
chemical reaction
Triboluminescence:
external stimulus is friction
Voltaic materials
Storage of energy for electronic
parts
Use of solar cells
Photovoltaic materials possess
the
property to generate electric current
by means of a light excitation.
Research underway to produce
and store electricity from body
movements and wrist rotation
Reflective Technology
A technology has been created to
convert proprietary materials into
miniature reflectors that, when
imbedded into fabric by the
millions, reflect oncoming light,
such as automobile headlights, in
a way that illuminates the full
silhouette of a person, bicycle or
any other object.
The reflectors are smaller than a
grain of sand and finer than a
human hair. They can be
imbedded into the weave of
almost any fabric. The end result
is a fabric that remains soft to the
touch and retains its function and
SHAPE MEMORY MATERIALS
(SMM)
SMMs can deform from the current
shape to a previously set shape,
usually due to the action of heat
SSMs are activated (at a certain
activation temperature)
air gaps between close layers of
clothing are increased
This gives better insulation and
protection against extremes of heat
or cold
Activated temprature should be near
body tempratures
SM Polymers are more flexible than
the alloys
Thermoplastic polyurethane
films
Placed in between layers of clothing
This creates micro pores and
membrane permeability that allow
vapor and body heat to escape.
Phase Change Materials
Change their phase from solid to
liquid upon heating and back to solid
from liquid when temperature is drop
down
First stage
phase change from Solid to liquid
they absorb, distribute and store the
heat
nd
Stage
Phase change from liquid to solid
release heat when going a phase
change from liquid to solid
Features of PCMS
wearer skins temperature constant
Absorbs the excess heat and release
it when required
PCM possesses the ability to change
their phase with a certain
temperature range
Outlast Phase Change
Jacket
maintain the
wearer skin
temperature in a
comfortable
zone.
Working Principle of PCM
BENEFITS OF PCM
A cooling effect, caused by absorption of heat by the PCM.
b) A heating effect, caused by release of heat from the PCM.
c) A thermo-regulating effect, resulting from either absorption
of heat or release of heat by the PCM which keeps the
temperature of wearer constant in the comfort zone.
d) An active thermal barrier effect resulting from either heat
absorption or heat emission of the PCM and creating a thermal
barrier in surrounding substrate, which, regulates through the
substrate and adapts the heat flux to thermal needs.
e) The cross-linked PEG treated fabric have antibacterial
activity, resiliency/antiwrinkling, wear, toughness, absorbency
and exsorbency of liquids, improved abrasion and linting
resistance, decreased static propensity and increased oily soil
releas
TYPES OF PHASE CHANGE
MATERIALS
Hydrated Inorganic Salt
Hydrocarbons
Polyethylene glycol
Fatty acids and Vegetable oils
Hydrated Inorganic Salt
inorganic salt crystal with n water
molecules
heat-absorbing and -releasing
temperature interval of about 20 to
40 C
used in the manufacture of heatstorage and thermo-regulated
textiles and clothing
Hydrocarbons
Phase Change Temperature (PCT) or
Melting temperature for the
hydrocarbons can be manipulated by
selecting no. of carbon atoms
PCT can be achieved from -5c to
60c by having no. of carbon atoms
from 13-28
Polyethylene glycol
Paraffin waxes have the heat storage
capacity of 150-200kj/kg
PCT or melting temperature ranges
from 35 C to 63 C
The melting temperature for
polyethylene glycol increases with
increase in molecular weigh
Fatty acids and
Vegetable oils
Fatty acid and mineral oils their heat
Storage capacity range 153-182 kj/kg
Phase change temperature
range(PCT)/Melting temperature of
30-60c
INCORPORATION OF PCM INTO
FABRICS
Fiber technology
Coatings
Lamination
Microencapsulation
Fiber technology
first step in any technology of PCM is
Microencapsulation
Microencapsulation is the process of
capturing small amounts of phase change
materials in a shell material
protective polymer shell is very durable
and designed to withstand textile
production methods used in fiber, yarn
spinning, weaving, knitting, and coating
applications.
Coatings
There are various coating processes
knife-over-roll,
knife-over-air,
pad-dry-cure,
gravure,
dip coating,
transfer coating.
Coating process
Microspheres containing phase change
material are dispersed in a dispersion
of
water solution containing a
surfactant,
a dispersant,
an antifoam agent
a polymer mixture
Lamination
microcapsules would be mixed into a
water-blown polyurethane foam mix
and these foams are applied to a
fabric in a lamination process
water is taken out of the system by
drying process
Microencapsulation
Microencapsulation is a process in
which tiny particles or droplets are
surrounded by a coating to give
small capsules
microcapsule is a small sphere with a
uniform wall around it.
Microencapsulation is also known as
micro packaging of solids and liquids.
The material inside the microcapsule
is referred to as the core, internal
phase, or fill
wall is sometimes called a shell,
coating, or membrane
Most microcapsules have diameters
between a few micrometers and a
few millimeters
APPLICATION OF PHASE
CHANGE MATERIALS
Life style apparel - Smart jackets,
Vests, Men's and Women's hats,
Gloves
Outdoor active wear apparel -jackets
and jacket lining, boots, golf shoes,
trekking shoes, socks, ski and
snowboard gloves
Protective garments
Automotive Textiles
Aerospace
Medical Products
tarpaulin cloth
Covering cloth
Life style apparel
Smart
jackets,
Vests, Men's
Women's
hats,
Gloves.
Outdoor active wear
apparel
jackets and jacket lining,
boots, golf shoes,
trekking
shoes,
socks,
ski and snowboard gloves
Protective garments
Automotive Textiles
Aerospace
Phase change
technology originates
from the NASA
(National Aeronautics
and Space
Administrations)
research program of
the 1970s
Medical Products
Tarpaulin cloth
Covering cloth
LIMITATION
a) The limitation with phase change materials is that
this phenomenon only occurs over a specific
temperature or temperature range for any specific
PCM and When the Latent heat of the PCM is fully
absorbed or released the thermo regulating effect
stops.
b) The clothing structure should be carefully
engineered otherwise it can release the absorbed heat
to the environment rather than to the wearers body.
c) If the amount of PCM presence is more to get higher
heat storage, the fabric become very stiff because of
higher amount of PCM
What Lies Ahead?
The range and variety of high performance
textiles that have been developed to meet
present and future requirements are now
considerable
Textile materials are now combined, modified
and tailored in ways far beyond the
performance limit of fibers drawn from the
silkworm cocoon, grown in the fields, or spun
from the fleece of animals
And the future promises even more!
What new capacities should we expect as a
result of future developments in
smart/interactive textiles?
They should include tera and nano scale
magnitudes, complexity, cognition and
holism
The
new capability of tera scale takes us
three orders of magnitude beyond the
present general-purpose and generally
accessible computing capabilities. The
technology of nano scale takes us three
orders of magnitude below the size of most
of todays human-made devices
It allows to arrange molecules inexpensively in
most of the ways permitted by physical laws
It lets make supercomputers that fit on the
head of a fiber, and fleets of medical nanorobots smaller than a human cell to eliminate
cancers, infections, clogged arteries
Fibers are relentlessly replacing traditional
materials in many more applications. From superabsorbent diapers, to artificial organs, to
construction materials for moon-based space
stations
Heat generating/storing fibers/fabrics are
now being used in skiwear, shoes,
helmets, etc
Fabrics and composites integrated with
optical fibers sensors are used to monitor
bridges and buildings
Garments integrated with sensors and
motherboards can detect and transmit
injury and health information of the
wearer
Clothing with its own senses and brain
are integrated with Global Positioning
Systems (GPS) and mobile phone
technology to provide the position of
the wearertissues
and directions
Biological
and organs, like ears
and noses, are grown from textile
scaffolds made from bio-degradable
fibers
Integrated with nano-materials, textiles
are imparted with very high energy
absorption capacity and other functions
such as stain proofing, abrasion
resistance, light emission, etc.
THE END
