Textile exhibitions and the media often refer to the concept of “smart textiles” in recent years. Even the super cool smart suits in superhero movies are often an indispensable element. For example, in the movie "Spider-Man: Return of Heroes", the little spider's suit is completely an upgraded version of Black Technology integration. The AI system will talk to Spider-Man and assist Spider-Man in pre-training; built-in GPS tracking system; Spider web wing"; mask "face" and so on. It is also a hot spot for scientists to focus on a series of functions on clothing.
At present, smart textiles is a new generation of textiles derived from textile fibers and consumer products. It is a functional textile that has the function of sensing and reacting to the external environment and retains the texture of the textile itself. And characteristics. Smart textiles are characterized by the addition of special ingredients to the fabric, which can be electronic devices, specially constructed polymers or even colorants.
Broadly speaking, smart textiles are highly intelligent textiles that are developed using multidisciplinary knowledge such as textiles, electronics, chemistry, biology, medicine, etc. Based on the concept of bionics, they can simulate life systems and have both perception and response. Features. Smart textiles in the narrow sense refer to electronic information smart textiles. It integrates technologies such as microelectronics, information, and computers into textiles.
According to a market research company in India, as a high-tech textile, the total value of the smart textile industry will reach 4.7 billion US dollars by 2020. Given that the smart textile industry's total value in 2014 was less than $1 billion, its expected growth would be staggering – a cumulative annual growth rate of 30%. This will create an area that has never been seen before. It is not just a few products, but a brand new industry.
Smart textile example
01 Photochromic textiles
The photosensitive color-changing textile is a functional dye that can change color under the irradiation of ultraviolet light or visible light, and can be inverted to the original color after the light disappears. Photochromic materials mainly include silver chloride, silver bromide, stilbene, spiro, norbornadiene, fulgides, triphenylmethane derivatives, salicylic acid aniline compounds and the like. At present, photochromic materials have been developed to have four basic colors: purple, yellow, blue, and red. The initial structures of the four kinds of optically variable materials are closed-loop type, that is, there is no color on the fabric, and it becomes purple, yellow, blue, and red when exposed to ultraviolet rays.
02 Thermochromic textiles
Thermochromism is a material that causes a color change with temperature changes, and a color-changing material (dye) is mainly a reversible change. The TC series produced by Japan Matsui Pigment Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and the RT series produced in China are thermal color-changing products. In the process of taking the fabric, depending on the season and region, the indoor and outdoor temperatures are different, and the color is changed. At present, the color printing materials can be produced and the processing technology is mainly in the UK, Japan, etc. and Taiwan in China.
03 Smart color fiber
The combination of intelligent color-changing fibers and traditional weaving technology enables intelligent color changes in clothing. Using the principle of optical transmission, combined with Internet technology and electronic sensing technology, the intelligent smart wedding dress is designed and manufactured to realize mobile phone APP remote control, one-touch color change and automatic flash.
04 Intelligent constant temperature textiles
In a paper published in November 17th, Science Progress, a team led by American materials scientist Yi Cui created a double-faced fabric. The fabric can be kept warm or cool depending on which side of the fabric the wearer faces.
This smart textile can freely adjust the internal temperature of the textile within a certain temperature range according to changes in ambient temperature. That is, as the ambient temperature increases, the phase change material absorbs heat and melts, storing heat; when the external temperature drops. The phase change material condenses exotherm and releases heat so that the internal temperature of the fabric remains relatively constant.
05 stretchable battery fabric
The team led by Binghamton University professor Seokheun Choi created a completely textile-based bio-battery that maintains the battery's power. In addition, textiles still exhibit stable power generation capacity under repeated stretching and torsion cycles. The future of this technology in wearable clothing is of great significance.
06 Smart protective textiles
In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Katherine Mirica and the chemist team at the company studied a new type of smart protective textile with the soft properties of textiles. Its protective function is based on the tissue frame of the fabric and the conductive porous material integrated into the soft textile. It can capture, pre-concentrate and filter toxic substances. This is not just a passive protection. If there are tears or defects in the fabric, or if the fabric is degraded, the system fabric can actively warn the user.
07 Energy Harvesting Fiber
These yarns are composed of carbon nanotubes, which are 10,000 times smaller in diameter than human hair. When the yarn is twisted or stretched, the volume of the carbon nanotube yarn is reduced, causing the charge on the yarn to more closely bond together and increase their energy, thereby achieving energy capacity and reserves.
08 Smart carpet
It looks like a regular carpet, but adds a layer of sensor between the surface and the lining. The "guide path tomography" technique is used to record in real time the spatial details of carpet deformation caused by human contact (standing, walking, lying, etc.). This data identifies changes in behavior caused by natural causes or diseases. In addition, the carpet can be modified and placed flexibly according to space. This invention makes sense for the elderly and people with mobility impairments.
With the continuous development of intelligent technology, smart textiles will be unstoppable, and it is expected that more products will fly into the homes of ordinary people in the near future, enriching and facilitating the daily life of our lives.
Founded in 2015, Dongyang Laichi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. mainly produces high quality: spunbond nonwoven fabric, elastic nonwoven fabric, medical nonwoven fabric, SSS nonwoven fabric, SMS nonwoven fabric and other products. Xiaobian has to be proud to praise: Lai Chi nonwoven manufacturers are your best choice!