Today, innovation-driven technology industry, culture-led fashion industry, and responsibility-oriented green industry have gradually become new labels for the textile and apparel industry. In the context of the new era, can the textile industry use the power of new technologies to complete a gorgeous functional transformation? We may be able to find out from the following research and development results.
01
EPFL develops new elastic fibers or changes smart clothing
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) has developed a microfiber made of elastomer that can detect the slightest pressure and strain and can withstand nearly 5 times the stress before returning to its original shape. Transformation, these characteristics are enough to ensure its perfect application in smart clothing, prosthetics, and artificial nerves for robots.
When the fibers are integrated into the robot’s fingers as artificial nerves, when the robot’s fingers touch an object, the electrodes in the fibers transmit information about the robot’s tactile interaction with the surrounding environment. Information. Additionally, this technology could also enable the development of touch keyboards integrated directly into clothing.
02
LEDs and sensors are woven directly into textile fibers or may enable health monitoring
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A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States has woven light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and sensors directly into textile-grade polymer fibers. This process can be used in new wearable technologies for optical communication and health monitoring. .
The research team tested the durability of these diode fibers by placing them in a standard household washing machine. Research shows that a two-way optical communication link can be established between two textiles containing light-detecting and luminescent fibers. Not only that, this smart textile can also be used to measure the wearer’s heart rate.
03
University of Delaware
New nanosensors lead to wearable smart textiles
Future “smart clothing” may use fabrics with sensing technology. Sensors can be made on the soles of shoes or clothing. Detect human body movement status at any time.
The University of Delaware research team used electrophoretic deposition technology (EPD) of polyethyleneimine functionalized carbon nanotubes to prepare nerve-like conductive nanocomposite coatings on fibers. The coating has good flexibility and touch feel, is only 250-750 nanometers thick, and only adds about 1 gram of weight to traditional shoes or clothing. It is currently used in Kevlar, wool, nylon, spandex and polyester, etc. Tested on a variety of natural and synthetic fibers.
This technology has great application prospects in sports medicine, recovery after surgery, and assessment of movement disorders in children.
04
Korean researchers used natural silk to develop high-temperature resistant silk-based electronic textiles
Natural silk is composed of biopolymer protein chains, which can maintain structural stability even at extremely high temperatures (up to 2800°C). Korean researchers have used this property to heat-treat and stretch silk proteins into electronic textiles, which can be used to make a new generation of portable and flexible electronic devices, especially electronic devices embedded in clothing, packaging or other objects.
05
Chitosan hydrogel modified textiles
New breakthrough in the medical field
Chitosan is a derivative of chitin, which is commonly found in crustacean shells and exoskeletons substance. Chitosan has a very good inhibitory effect on the growth of various bacteria and fungi.
In order to inhibit the growth of microorganisms on medical textiles, Mariem Trad and colleagues used chitosan to synthesize hydrogels with less impact on human health and applied them to ion-activated cellulose fibers to enhance the antimicrobial activity of these fibers. Studies have shown that textiles treated with hydrogels also exhibit enhanced hygroscopicity and maintain their high water vapor permeability without affecting their performance in use.
06
Super porous made from silk fibers imitating the comet moth Multifunctional fibers
The fibers produced by the Madagascar comet moth (Argemamittrei) not only have excellent cooling properties, but also have the special ability to transmit optical signals and images.
Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a spinning man-made fiber technology based on this. The bionic fiber produced can be used to make ultra-thin summer clothing that has “air conditioning” Its thickness is much less than that of a piece of paper, and it does not become translucent when people sweat.
07
UBC researchers solve textile composite wrinkling The problem
Textile composites are widely used in prototyping due to their strength and durability, and have also been invested in large-scale applications in aerospace, energy, automotive and marine fields. production, but wrinkling is one of the most common defects in textile composites.
UBC Composites Research Center-Okanagan researchers explored several different wrinkle removal methods and ultimately found that they can be used to manufacture textile composites by simultaneously applying two Directional stretching of materials to improve wrinkle removal effectiveness. They achieved wrinkle removal effectiveness through a custom biaxial fixture and designed a clip that stretches the fabric and removes unwanted bulges and wrinkles.
08
Sanitized gives polyester textiles innovative odor management farewell Stubborn odor
Sanitized is a global leader inOne of the leading manufacturers of antimicrobial hygiene functions and material protection for textiles and polymers, its newly developed washable Sanitized Odoractiv 10 has a double function: it prevents the retention of bacteria on the textile, while at the same time the garment remains durable during wear. Capable of absorbing odors, the product won the Swiss Technology Award.
09
DuPont digital textile ink passed “ECOPASSPORT by OEKO- TEX” certification
DuPont Advanced Printing Division recently announced that its Artistri ink has obtained the “ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX” certification issued by the German Hohenstein Institute. This certification Demonstrates that its products can be used in sustainable textile production and related safety products.
Artistri ink combines DuPont’s patented dispersion color paste, polymer and ink formula to produce bright and vivid colors, excellent printing stability and extremely high color fastness.
10
Privan launches new ultra-black colorant for textiles
PolyOne recently launched a new series of ultra-black colorants for textiles. It has excellent blackness, color fastness and spinnability. It is suitable for nylon and polyester and can make various black colors richer and deeper.
In addition, the addition rate of this colorant is 30-60% lower than that of traditional black masterbatch, which is more environmentally friendly and can be used in clean and water-free synthetic fiber coloring processes. It meets the requirements of automotive interiors and can even be used for sea island fiber.
11
Smart textile materials help textile product development: smart temperature-regulating textile materials
Intelligent textile materials integrate textile, electronics, medicine, computer, physics, chemistry and other technologies. They can sense environmental changes and respond accordingly, improving the quality of life and meeting the needs of special industries. It plays an important role in other aspects and is the main direction of future industry development.
Smart temperature-regulating textile materials have ultra-high practicability and applicability, can keep the human body temperature within a comfortable range, and have the characteristics of “warm in winter and cool in summer”.
Related enterprises or research units: American Outlast Company, Mid6 Technology Company, American Triangle Company, Portuguese Center for Nanotechnology and Intelligent Materials (CeNTI), Hong Kong Futian Industrial Group, Hengtian Hailong Co., Ltd., Ambers International Group and Hebei Xiongya Textile Group, etc.
12
Smart shape memory textile materials
Smart shape memory textile materials comprehensively achieve the following three goals. The design of green and environmentally friendly materials, the research and development of high-memory products, and the mass production of products are the main development directions of shape memory textiles at present. Relevant enterprises or research units: Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Tianjin University of Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, etc.
13
Intelligent color-changing textile materials
Smart color-changing textile materials are intelligent products with high added value and high efficiency, and have good development prospects in textile, military, entertainment, anti-counterfeiting and other fields. Relevant enterprises or research units: NASA, Japan Kanebo Company, Shishi Senko Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Smart Clothing Technology Co., Ltd., etc.
14
Electronic Information Intelligent Textile Materials
Electronic information smart textiles mainly include three categories: ① Perception of external environment and conditions; ② Feedback function; ③ Response function. Relevant enterprises or research units: Canadian OMsignal Smart Clothing Development Company, Google (joining forces with Levi’s), Intel (joining forces with architectural sportswear designers), Dongguan Nanyao Smart Clothing Co., Ltd., Bodiga Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., etc. </p
