In the context of the new era, science and technology are changing with each passing day. Can the textile industry use the power of new technologies to complete a gorgeous functional transformation? Maybe you can find out from the following research and development results!
Top Ten Textile New Technologies
1. EPFL has developed a new Elastane, or changing smart clothing
Image source: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
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, and 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.
2. LEDs and sensors are woven directly into textile fibers, which may enable health monitoring
Image source: “Nature”
The MIT team in the United States will use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and sensors are woven directly into textile-grade polymer fibers, a process that could be used in new wearable technologies for optical communications 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.
3. University of Delaware: New nanosensors lead to wearable smart textiles
Image source: University of Delaware
Future “smart clothing” Fabrics with sensing technology may be used. Sensors can be integrated into the soles of shoes or clothing to monitor human body movement 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 250~750nm thick, and only adds about 1 gram of weight to traditional shoes or clothes. It is currently used in Kevlar®, wool, nylon, spandex, 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.
4. Korean researchers used natural silk to develop high-temperature resistant silk-based electronic textiles
Image source: Related literature
Natural silk is composed of biopolymer protein chains , maintaining 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.
5. Chitosan hydrogel modified textiles, a new breakthrough in the medical field
Image source: Internet public information
Chitosan is a derivative of chitin, and Chitin is a common substance found in crustacean shells and exoskeletons. Chitosan has a 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.
6. Imitate the silk fiber of the comet moth to make super porous multifunctional fiber
Image source: Norman Shi and Nanfang Yu / Columbia College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Madagascar The fibers produced by the 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 spin-made fiber technology based on this. The resulting bionic fiber can be used to make ultra-thin summer clothing that has “air conditioning” ” feature, its thickness is much less than that of a piece of paper and it does not become translucent when people sweat.
7. UBC researchers solve the problem of wrinkles in textile composites
Image source: University of British Columbia
Textile composites are popular for their high strength and durability. Widely used in prototyping and also in mass production in aerospace, energy, automotive and marine sectors, 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.
8. Sanitized gives polyester textiles innovative odor management, saying goodbye to stubborn odor
Image source: Sanitized official website
Sanitized is a global leader in antibacterial hygiene functions and materials for textiles and polymers One of the protection manufacturers, its latest development of the wash-resistant Sanitized Odoractiv 10 has a dual effect: it prevents bacteria from settling on the textile, while at the same time the garment absorbs odors during wear. This product won the Swiss Technology Award.
9. DuPont digital textile ink passed the “ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX” certification
Picture source: DuPont official website
DuPont Advanced Printing Division recently announced that its Artistri ink Obtained the “ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX” certification issued by the German Hohenstein Institute, which indicates 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
Image source: PolyOne official website
PolyOne recently launched a new ultra-black color for textile use Colorant series, which has excellent blackness and color fastness, 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% to 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 can meet the requirements of automobile interiors and can even be used for sea island fiber.
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