SMART TEXTILES (Introduction)

• Smart textiles are the textiles which sense and react to environment conditions or stimuli.

• Smart textiles are able to sense changes in their environment and can act upon predetermined ways.

• They work on three basic parts :- Sensors, Actuators and Units (Systems)

Sensors 

Sensor is a device that detects or responds to a physical or chemical change.

Actuators

Actuator converts energy into motion, releases substance, noise and many other ways.

• Smart textiles are classified in three categories:-

  

• 1. Passive Smart Textiles (Sensors):- They can only sense the environment conditions.

  Examples:- Optic fibre, Conductive Material, Thermocouple

  2. Active Smart Textile (Sensors & Actuators):- They can sense and react to the environment conditions.

  Examples:- 

  Type – I :- Chromatic materials, Shape Memory materials, Phase Change materials,   

                     Hydrogel and Membranes

  Type – II :- Luminescent materials, Photovoltaic, Electric textiles

  3. Very Smart Textiles (Units and Systems):- They can sense, react and adapt themselves accordingly.

  Examples:- Space suits, Thermo regulating clothing, Health monitoring apparel

  Types of Sensors:- 

  • Blood Pressure Measuring Sensor

  • Body Temperature Measuring Sensor 

  • Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC)

  • Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC)

  • Pulse Rate Measuring Sensor

  Materials used for Smart Textiles

  • Metal fibres

  • Conductive inks

  • Inherently conductive polymer

  • Optical fibre

  • Coating with nanoparticles

  • Organic semiconductor

  • Shape memory materials

  • Chromic materials

  Application of Smart Textiles

  • Health care

  • Life belt

  • Life jacket

  • Defence

  • Fashion and entertainment

  • Sports wear

  • Purpose clothing

  • Transport and automotive use

  
  

  Phase Change Material (PCM)

  It is a latent heat storage material, which can be integrated into textile structures, in numerous ways, as microcapsules.

  Examples:- Paraffin wax, Fatty acid, Hydrated solutions, Eutectics or organic and inorganic compound.