2. Introduction
Smart textiles introduces a shift from passive
functionality to active behaviour.
It is the result of the integration of microelectronics in
textiles to endow materials with new properties.
successful marriage of traditional textiles and clothing
technology with other branches of science like material
science, structural mechanics, sensor and actuator
technology, advance processing
technology, communication, artificial
intelligence, biology etc.
The production of smart textiles is now a reality after a
3.
Smart textiles are defined as textiles that can sense and
react via an active control mechanism to
environmental conditions or stimuli from
mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical or magnetic
sources.
4.
Passive Smart Textile
Can only sense the environment
These are sensors
Can sense and react to the environmental
stimuli
These are sensors and actuators
Can sense, react and adapt themselves to
environment
Cognition, reasoning and activating
capacities
Ultra Smart Textile
Active Smart Textile
5.
Functions of smart textiles
Sensing
Data processing
Actuation
Storage
Communication
6. Sensing
Basically , sensing is the function of transforming a
signal into another signal that can be read and
understood by a predefined reader which can be a real
device or a person.
For real devices all the signals should be ultimately
converted into electrical ones.
Thermocouple, quantum tunneling composite( based
on softswitch technology), fibre bragg grating sensors(
basically optical fibres) are used to convert the signals
into electrical ones.
7.
Data processing
Data processing is one of the components that are
required only when active processing is necessary
Problems need to be overcome before imparting textile
material for this function are :fastness to washing,
deformation, interconnections, etc.
So far, pieces of electronics are used for data
processing whichare now available in miniaturised
and even in a flexible form.
8.
Actuation
Actuators respond to an impulse resulting from sensor
function , possibly data processing.
Actuators make things move , release substances, make
noise and many more.
Shape memory material, drug supply system(emitting
substances) are the best suiting examples in this field.
9. Storage
Sensing, data processing, actuation, communication,
they usually need energy, mostly electrical energy.
For efficient energy management there should bean
appropriate combination of energy supply and energy
storage capacity.
Here sources of energy are--instance body heat,
mechanical motion (elastic from deformation of the
fabrics, kinetic from body motion), radiation, etc.
10. Communication
It may be required
Within one element of a suit---optical fibres,
conductive yarns
Between the individual elements within the suit---
optical fibres, conductive yarns
From the wearer to the suit to pass instructions---
optical fibres
From the suit to the wearer or his environment to
pass information---wireless connection i.e.
antenna manufactured in textile material
12.
PCMs are applied either in spinning or during chemical
finishing of textiles like coating, lamination etc.
Paraffin phase change material
Acts as a storage of heat in
garments.
Provide a thermal balance
between the heat generated by
the body while engaging in a
sport and the heat released into
the environment.
13.
Change their colour reversibly
according to external environmental
conditions
Photochromic: external stimulus is
light.
Thermochromic: external stimulus is
heat.
Electrochromic: external stimulus is
electricity.
Piezorochromic: external stimulus is
pressure.
Solvatechromic: external stimulus is
liquid or gas.
14.
Emits lights according to external
environmental conditions
Photoluminescence: external
stimulus is light
Electroluminescence: external
stimulus is electricity
Chemioluminescence: external
stimulus is a chemical reaction
Triboluminescence: external
stimulus is friction
15. Function: It conducts electricity.
Properties: Light
weight, flexible, cost competitive
with ability to be
crimped, soldered and subjected
to textile processing.
Preparation: It can be made by
filling synthetic fibres with
carbon or metal particles, coating
fibres with conductive polymers
or using conductive short fibres.
16.
Research underway to produce
and store electricity from body
movements and wrist rotation
Storage of energy for electronic
parts
Use of solar cells
Photovoltaic materials possess
the property to generate electric
current by means of a light
excitation.
17.
These are materials with
electronic functionality and at the
same time textile characteristics.
Examples---
The wearable computer
The sensory Baby
Vest The respibelt
18. Textiles are changing day by day and this hybridisation of
textiles with other branches of science has been most
welcome by all. It has shifted the consumer value ---
instead of wanting the finest natural material, people
look at the engineered beauty, innovative design and
intelligent aspect of product.
So, if smart textile are affordable I think they will be
accepted by the user as part of his everyday life…
