What are smart textiles?
Smart textiles can broadly refer to the response of fibers, fabrics and garments to external stimuli such as temperature, humidity, light, pressure, and electronic magnetic fields. and other factors, sensing and reacting.
According to different reactions, they can be divided into three categories: passive intelligent textiles, active intelligent textiles and very intelligent textiles. kind.
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Passive smart textiles – only stimulate the outside world Perception is possible. Take an insulated jacket as an example. No matter whether the temperature outside is hot or cold, this type of clothing can only maintain its “warmth” function.
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Active smart textiles – not only stimulate the outside world It can sense and respond. Shape memory textiles are the best example.
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Very intelligent textiles – not only stimulate the outside world It can sense and respond, and it can also automatically adjust to adapt to external stimuli.
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1. Intelligent temperature-controlled textiles
Phase change materials are a type of material that can be reversible by itself within a certain temperature range. Phase Change A substance that absorbs or releases potential heat from the environment. Using this characteristic of phase change materials, temperature-regulating textiles with intelligent temperature control and health care properties can be developed.
This type of smart textiles can freely adjust the internal temperature of the textile within a certain temperature range according to changes in the external environmental temperature. That is, when the external ambient temperature rises, the phase change material absorbs heat, melts, and stores heat; when the external ambient temperature drops. Phase change materials exothermally condense and release heat to keep the internal temperature of the textile relatively stable. This characteristic makes it have wide application value.
1. Thermal insulation textiles
The heat-generating textile “Solarµtype” jointly developed by Desanto and Unitika ”, which mainly absorbs solar energy to achieve thermal insulation.
Japanese Teijin Company uses the near-infrared absorption function of certain quinone organic dyes to apply the coating on After the fiber surface is exposed, a textile with near-infrared absorption function is obtained.
2. Cool textiles
The “Coolmax” product of DuPont in the United States has four-channel fibers and the largest space between the fibers to ensure that moisture and heat on the skin surface are quickly conducted to the outer layer of the fiber.
The “Esmo” fiber developed by Kuraray Japan has good ultraviolet reflection function and low absorption rate of visible light and near-infrared rays. The internal temperature of the fabric under sunlight is 2-4°C lower than that of conventional fabrics.
3. Automatic temperature-regulating textiles
Automatic thermoregulating textiles have a two-way temperature regulating function, which can absorb or release heat energy according to changes in ambient temperature. When the temperature rises, it can absorb heat from the surroundings; when the temperature drops, it can release heat, allowing the wearer to maintain a comfortable temperature.
The most commonly used intelligent temperature-regulating materials currently are phase change materials (PCMs).
Phase change materials mainly include three categories: inorganic PCMs, organic PCMs and composite PCMs. Among them, inorganic PCMs mainly include crystalline hydrated salts, molten salts, metals or alloys, etc.; organic PCMs mainly include paraffin, acetic acid and other organic substances;
The Outlast fiber that has appeared in the European and American markets in recent years is a representative product One, the key to its technology is to place microcapsulated PCM (polyethylene glycol) inside the fiber, and achieve automatic temperature regulation through spinning or finishing.
What are the inspection and testing methods for international and domestic temperature-controlled textiles?
Warmth retention: JIS L1018 A method, JIS L1096 A method,
GB/T 11048 method A, BS5335-1
Light absorption thermal insulation: JSIF A 036
Cooling feeling: Boken Method (exposure to cold and warm sensation evaluation value q-max)
2. Shape memory textiles
Shape memory textiles are a method of weaving or finishing materials with shape memory functions. Introduced into textiles. It has shape memory under external conditions such as temperature, mechanical force, light, pH value, etc.eview-group=”1″ src=”https://www.pctextile.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20210911110946109016.png”>
Applications of smart textiles in different fields
1. Color-changing smart textiles
Nano “stealth” military uniforms are made of four different colors These patterns are simulated by computer statistical analysis of a large number of jungles, deserts, rocks and other background environments. Wearing this kind of stealth military uniform, under visible light, from a close distance, it is a camouflage with a large contrast between light and dark; from a long distance, its fine patterns are perfectly consistent with the surrounding environment, making it difficult to be detected by the opponent even when moving. .
2. Shape memory smart textiles
Anti-immersion clothing is a necessary water survival suit for pilots. Its function is to prevent water from infiltrating into the suit when the pilot falls into the water, thus extending the survival time until rescuers come to rescue him. Introducing a stimulus-responsive polymer gel layer on the surface of the fiber, and using its characteristic of volume transformation under certain conditions to make anti-immersion clothing fabrics, can significantly increase the time for water to soak into the clothing and improve the chance of survival for those who fall into the water.
3. Thermal insulation smart textiles
a. At the 1998 Winter Olympics, 200 Swiss athletes and 300 reporters wore Descente’s Mobile thermo ski shirt. This ski shirt has a built-in heating system to ensure accurate internal temperature control. sex.
b. Japan’s Toyobo Company has highly hydrophilicized polyacrylic acid molecular chains and developed a temperature-regulating The moisture-intelligent fiber “Aikesu” has a moisture absorption capacity of about 3.5 times that of cotton under standard conditions. Compared with natural fibers, “Aikesu” absorbs moisture and releases heat more slowly and can release it evenly, thereby easing the temperature regulation inside clothing and preventing the cold feeling after sweating. Textiles processed from this type of fiber are suitable for making sportswear.
4. Electronic smart textiles
The smart sports shoes produced by the American company Reebok can accurately display the distance run or walked, the speed of the rhythm and the calories consumed to the wearer. Future development will be able to measure the wearer’s heart rate and selectively play certain music based on the heartbeat. If necessary, the melody of the music will be adjusted to make the wearer run faster or slow down after listening to the music. .
5. Shape memory smart textiles
In 2001, the Italian company Corpo Nove designed and developed a “lazy shirt” that added nickel, titanium and nylon fibers to the shirt fabric to give it shape memory properties. When the outside temperature is high, the shirt sleeves will automatically roll up from the wrist to the elbow in a few seconds; when the temperature drops, the sleeves can automatically recover.
6. Automatic temperature-adjusting smart textiles
Due to the special wearing environment, spacesuits have extremely high requirements for intelligence. NASA has developed gloves that keep pilots’ hands warm and could protect astronauts flying in space from extremely harsh weather conditions.
7. Electronic smart textiles
Philippe Company has produced a children’s ski clothing with electronic tracking function, so the guardian can know the exact location of the child at any time. The golf jacket developed by it has sensors embedded in the sleeves, which can monitor and record the arm swing angle and rhythm of athletes when playing, so as to compare it with the records of champion athletes.
8. Military applications
Nano “stealth” military uniform
Nano information military uniform
Soldier combat clothing
Smart anti-immersion clothing
Astronaut clothing
Military smart tent
Smart parachute
9. Applications in sports
Smart sneakers
Ski jacket with built-in heating system
Smart golf jacket
Children’s ski clothing with electronic tracking function
10. Application of special protection
Thermal insulation clothing
Electromagnetic radiation protection fabric
Impact-resistant smart protective fabric
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