Intelligent Textiles and Clothing

H Mattila

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9781845690052
• eBook ISBN: 9781845691622
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Materials Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

The use of intelligent textiles in clothing is an exciting new field with wide-ranging applications. Intelligent textiles and clothing summarises some of the main types of intelligent textiles and their uses.Part one of the book reviews phase change materials (PCM), their role in such areas as thermal regulation and ways they can be integrated into outdoor and other types of clothing. The second part of the book discusses shape memory materials (SMM) and their applications in medical textiles, clothing and composite materials. Part three deals with chromic (colour change) and conductive materials and their use in such areas as sensors within clothing. The final part of the book looks at current and potential applications, including work wear and medical applications.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Intelligent textiles and clothing is an essential guide for textile manufacturers in such areas as specialist clothing (for example, protective, sports and outdoor clothing) as well as medical textiles.- Summarises the main types of intelligent textiles and their uses- Reviews phase change materials and their role in clothing- Discusses shape memory materials and their applications

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Intelligent textiles and clothing – a part of our intelligent ambience

H. Mattila Tampere University of Technology, Finland

1.1 Introduction

Although intelligent textiles and smart clothing have only recently been added to the textile vocabulary, we must admit that the industry has already for several years focused on enhancing the functional properties of textiles. New chemical fibres have been invented. By attaching membranes on textile substrates, fabrics were made breathable and yet waterproof. Three-dimensional weaving technology paved the way for new exciting technical textile developments. These are some examples of a textile-based approach for improving the properties and functionality. Wearable technology, the electronics-based approach, started to add totally new features to clothing by attaching various kinds of electronic devices to garments. The results, however, were often bulky, not very user friendly and often very impractical. The garment was truly wired with cables criss-crossing all over, batteries in pockets and hard electronic devices sticking out from the surface. The piece of clothing had become a platform for supporting electronics and was hardly wearable in a clothing comfort sense. The current objective in intelligent textile development is to embed electronics directly into textile substrates. A piece of clothing remains visibly unchanged and at the end of the day the consumer can still wash it in the washing machine without first removing all the electronics. This of course is very challenging.

1.2 Intelligent systems

Intelligent systems are normally understood to consist of three parts: a sensor, a processor and an actuator. For example, body temperature monitored by the sensor is transferred to the processor, which on the basis of the received information computes a solution and sends a command to the actuator for temperature regulation. To achieve such interactive reactions three separate parts may actually be needed. The sensor may be embroidered on the surface of the T-shirt by using conductive yarns. Signals are transmitted wirelessly between the processor, sensor and the actuators, which could be microscopic flaps that open in order to increase ventilation and temperature transfer. Or the system may work on the basis of physics like phase change materials.

Phase change materials (PCM), shape memory materials (SMM), chromic materials (colour change), conductive materials are examples of intelligent textiles that are already commercially available. This is also reflected in the contents of this book. Part I deals with phase change materials. Part II introduces shape memory materials. Chromic and conductive materials are presented in the next part. The final part deals with applications.

There are numerous research projects on the way around sensors and actuators as can be seen from EU’s research records Cordis.¹ Conductive fibres and yarns are equally important. Power supply, perhaps the toughest challenge for intelligent textiles, should also be an integral part of textiles. Flexible solar cells, micro fuel cells and the possibility of transforming body motion into electric power are interesting topics. Infineon Technologies AG has developed a textile embedded power supply based on the temperature difference between the outer and inner surfaces of a garment. Photonics, including textile-based display units, are being developed by many research institutes and companies. Interactive Photonic Textiles, an invention published by Philips in September 2005, contain flexible arrays of inorganic light-emitting diodes, which have been seamlessly integrated into textile structures. The invention turns fabric into intelligent displays to be used for ambient lighting, communication and personal health-care. The textile surface can also be made interactive and Philips has managed to embed orientation and pressure sensors as well as communications devices (Bluetooth, GSM) into the fabric. The jacket display making a man invisible developed at the University of Tokyo is one of most exciting latest inventions.

1.3 Applications

‘Where are the commercial applications?’ is a frequently asked question. Despite nearly ten years of research and development we have seen only a few smart textile and apparel products on the market. The computerized jogging shoe No. 1 by Adidas is one of them. Interactive Photonic Textiles by Philips may bring a few more around. But countless hours of research and development work is presently allocated to this area by universities, research institutes and companies in different parts of the world. Scientific conferences and commercial events are organized around this theme. One of them was Ambience 05, a scientific conference organized at Tampere, Finland in September 2005. More than 200 participants from 24 different countries participated and 42 papers focusing on intelligent textiles, smart garments, intelligent ambience and well-being were presented. In the interactive concluding session regarding future trends in smart textile research the participants were able to express their opinion on key questions through a remote-control on-line voting system. The results of the survey are presented in Table 1.1. It was felt by 79% of the participants that commercially successful smart textile and garment applications will be available in the market between five and ten years, most likely in sports and extreme wear, in occupational and professional clothing and in technical textiles. Nano-technology applications and adequate miniaturization of electronic devices for inserting them into fibres were still expected to take a considerable amount of time, while the majority felt that energy sources can be fully integrated into textile structures in the near future. More efficient phase change materials were expected to be available within the next five years, but the majority did not quite believe in breakthrough results with shape memory or colour change materials. Most of the participants expected textile embedded sensors and tele-monitoring of patients to become reality in hospitals despite the high costs.

Table 1.1

Future trends in smart textile research according to the participants at scientific conference Ambience 05

Commercially successful smart textile/garment applications will be available in	0–1 years 1–5 years 5–10 years > than 10 years Never	14.8% 50.8% 28.9% 3.9% 1.6%
In which sector do you expect commercially viable smart innovations first to become reality?	Sports and extreme Occupational clothing Transportation Technical textiles None of these	40.2% 24.8% 6.0% 21.4% 7.7%
It is possible to miniaturize electronic devices enough to insert them into fibres in	0–1 years 1–5 years 5–10 years > than 10 years Never	1.5% 26.7% 45.0% 23.7% 3.1%
Energy sources can be fully integrated into textile structures in the near future	Agree totally Agree slightly Disagree slightly Disagree totally	22.5% 43.4% 24.0% 10.1%
Phase change materials with real warming/cooling impact will be available in	0–1 years 1–5 years 5–10 years > than 10 years Never	13.6% 50.8% 19.7% 8.3% 7.6%
Shape memory and colour change textiles will generate breakthrough smart garment applications in the near future	Agree totally Agree slightly Disagree slightly Disagree totally	18.5% 43.1% 28.5% 10.0%
Textile embedded sensors and tele-monitoring of patients will be applied in hospitals despite high costs	Agree totally Agree slightly Disagree slightly Disagree totally	40.3% 38.7% 19.4% 1.6%
Breakthrough nano-technology applications in textiles, beside finishing, will be available in	0–1 years 1–5 years 5–10 years > than 10 years Never	6.4% 37.6% 36.7% 18.3% 0.9%

Source: Ambience 05 on-line poll at the interactive concluding session with more than 200 scientific participants.

Intelligent textile and garment research is very cross-scientific. Beside textile knowhow many other skills, such as electronics, telecommunications, biotechnology, medicine, etc., must be brought ...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright page
• Contributor contact details
• 1: Intelligent textiles and clothing – a part of our intelligent ambience
• 2: Methods and models for intelligent garment design
• Part I: Phase change materials
• Part II: Shape memory materials
• Part III: Chromic and conductive materials
• Part IV: Applications
• Index