Electronic Textiles: Wearable Computers,Reactive Fashion,and Soft Computation

Abstract

Electronic textiles, also referred to as smart fabrics, are quite fashionable right now. Their close relationship with the field of computer wearables gives us many diverging research directions and possible definitions. On one end of the spectrum, there are pragmatic applications such as military research into interactive camouflage or textiles that can heal wounded soldiers. On the other end of the spectrum, work is being done by artists and designers in the area of reactive clothes: “second skins” that can adapt to the environment and to the individual. Fashion, health, and telecommunication industries are also pursuing the vision of clothing that can express aspects of people's personalities, needs, and desires or augment social dynamics through the use and display of aggregate social information.

In my current production-based research, I develop enabling technology for electronic textiles based upon my theoretical evaluation of the historical and cultural modalities of textiles as they relate to future computational forms. My work involves the use of conductive yarns and fibers for power delivery, communication, and networking, as well as new materials for display that use electronic ink, nitinol, and thermochromic pigments. The textiles are created using traditional textile manufacturing techniques: spinning conductive yarns, weaving, knitting, embroidering, sewing, and printing with inks.     

ITMA 2015——生产产业用纺织品的机器创新

2015年国际纺织机械展览会(ITMA 2015)在意大利米兰举行,汇集众多的参展商和参展观众,呈现了大量的创新技术,取得了全面的成功。发展的核心议题之一是通过新的结构控制与技术理念实现纺织机械的节能化。人们生活的方方面面通过全球电子信息产业连接起来的发展总趋势,激励各公司为其在工业4.0时代的未来发展引入了越来越多的解决方案。很多机械生产商已经扩展他们的产品范围以满足消费者的需求,或建立组合式可调节的机械厂。目前,服装与家用纺织品等传统纺织市场的发展仍处于前沿,但欧洲国家尤其是德国,正在稳步扩大具有很大潜力的产业用纺织品市场。正是这些欧洲的大公司在致力于研发生产产业用纺织品的机械设备。几个例子记录了发展的趋势。     

Reactive Architecture,Augmented Textiles,Domotics and Soft Architecture Fabrication: On Electronic and Reactive Textiles in Domestic Contexts

The present paper interrogates the status and the role of electronic and reactive textiles in domestic contexts. After a preliminary incursion into the modern definition of home and homing, the paper addresses the changes that took place in the domestic space due to the development of digital and communication technologies. Defined as a “sensing home,” as a “communicating domestic space,” smart homes are challenging the traditional understanding of home, defined in terms of intimacy and privacy. In this context, electronic and reactive textiles are asked to overcome the low acceptance of smart homes, through their technical, sensorial, and cultural dimensions. The paper highlights some of the pros and cons in accommodating the latest technological advances in the field of textiles, analyses the way physical computing allows textiles to transform into domotics (robots for domestic environments), presents some of the latest developments on soft architecture fabrication and argues in favor of a much more critical approach to the development of sensors and actuators in textile objects.     

丝织品超声波清洗技术的研究

针对出土丝织品的特点，设计了适用于出土丝织品清洗的装置，研究了超声波的清洗技术以及超声波清洗丝织品的机理，叙述了使用超声波清洗出土丝织品的方法以及需要解决的问题。通过清洗实验证明：超声波清洗技术是一种新型的物理清洗技术，具有方便、迅速、有效、安全、无污染等优点，是适用于丝织品文物清洗的一种方法。     

用于个人热湿舒适管理的功能纺织品研究进展

为提高个体舒适性,降低建筑制冷和供暖能耗,研发可调节人体与环境热湿交换的纺织品是一种极具前景的解决方案,为此对国内外热湿管理功能纺织品的研究进行了回顾。首先介绍了个人热湿舒适管理机制,其次归纳了辐射调温纺织品、相变调温纺织品、智能响应纺织品、导热纺织品、能量转换的调温纺织品和水分管理纺织品6种常见的可用于个人热湿管理的先进功能纺织品,概述了基于不同热湿管理机制功能纺织品的研究进展及其在多个领域的潜在应用。研究认为:织物调控人体-服装微气候热量和水分平衡是个体舒适的关键;指出目前热湿管理先进功能纺织品存在规模制备困难、功能单一化、智能化不足和缺乏体系的热湿舒适性评价等问题;展望了用于个人热量管理的高级纺织品、能量收集技术和柔性电子设备的集成是未来智能服装的发展趋势。     

Nanotechnology – a new route to high-performance functional textiles

The use of nanomaterials- and nanotechnology-based processes is growing at a tremendous rate in all fields of science and technology. Textile industry is also experiencing the benefits of nanotechnology in its diverse field of applications. Textile-based nanoproducts starting from nanocomposite fibers, nanofibers to intelligent high-performance polymeric nanocoatings are getting their way not only in high performance advanced applications but nanoparticles are also successfully being used in conventional textiles to impart new functionality and improved performance. Greater repeatability, reliability and robustness are the main advantages of nanotechnological advancements in textiles. Nanoparticle application during conventional textile processing techniques, such as finishing, coating and dyeing, enhances the product performance manifold and imparts hitherto unachieved functionality. New coating techniques like sol-gel, layer-by-layer, plasma polymerization etc. can develop multi-functionality, intelligence, excellent durability and weather resistance to fabrics. The present paper focuses on the development and potential applications of nanotechnology in developing multifunctional and smart nanocomposite fibers, nanofibers and other new finished and nanocoated textiles. The four main areas of textile chemical processing, namely nanofinishing, nanocoating, nanocomposite coating and nanodyeing, are covered in the first section of this paper and the second section deals with developments in nanocomposite fibers and nanofibers. The influence of nanomaterials in textile finishing and processing to enhance product performance is discussed. Nanocoating is a relatively new technique in the textile field and is currently under research and development. Polymeric nanocomposite coatings, where nanoparticles are dispersed in polymeric media and used for coating applications, are the most promising route to develop multifunctional and intelligent high-performance textiles. Not much research has been done on applying the concept of nanotechnology in dyeing of textiles except a few reports on dye particle size reduction, structural change in fibers or the surface etching of textiles to create nanostructured surfaces. The reduction in water consumption during nanotechnology applications in textile processing has the potential to control the effluent problems of a textile process house. The most researched area to produce multifunctional, smart fibers is the preparation of nanocomposite fibers where the exceptional properties of nanoparticles have been utilized to enhance and impart several functionalities on conventional textile grade fibers. Nanofibers are gaining popularity in some specialized technical applications such as filter fabric, antibacterial patches and chemical protective suits. Nanotechnological advances in these two areas of nanocomposite fibers and nanofibrous forms have also been reviewed.     

喷墨打印导电墨水及其智能电子纺织品研究进展

为进一步推动印刷电子技术在纺织领域的应用并拓宽智能电子纺织品的应用领域,简要介绍了喷墨打印技术的电路印制过程和导电墨水组成;从当前喷墨打印技术中导电墨水存在的主要问题出发,详细综述了国内外导电墨水中金属系、碳系、高分子系导电组分的研究进展。以纺织基电子器件的柔性应用为出发点,主要介绍了喷墨打印技术在柔性导电器件、智能传感和能源采集与转换等应用领域的研究进展,为基于喷墨打印技术的智能电子纺织品的发展提供了理论与实践参考。最后,对印刷电子技术的技术要素、技术发展和应用前景等方面进行了总结与展望,指出智能打印及柔性应用是其未来的发展方向。     

Integration of stretchable and washable electronic modules for smart textile applications

Today electronics in “wearable systems” or “smart textiles” are mainly realised on traditional interconnection substrates, like rigid printed circuit boards or mechanically flexible substrates. The electronic modules are detachable to allow cleaning and washing of the textile. In order to achieve a higher degree of integration and user comfort, a technology for flexible and stretchable electronic circuits was developed. The electronic system is completely embedded in an elastomer material like polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, silicone), resulting in soft and stretchable electronic modules. The technology uses standard packaged components (ICs) and meander-shaped copper tracks, so that stretchable systems with complex functionality can be achieved. This paper describes how these stretchable modules can be integrated in textiles. Also the influence of the PDMS on the stretchability of the textile has been examined. A basic electronic module with blinking light emitting diodes (LEDs) was designed and produced to illustrate the textile integration and to perform initial washing tests.     

Phase change materials,their synthesis and application in textiles—a review

Phase change materials (PCMs) are widely being used in thermal energy storage systems for solar engineering, building materials, heat pumps, spacecraft, and in textile field especially smart and technical textiles. There are large numbers of organic and inorganic PCMs that possess a wide range of melting and solidifying temperature which attracts researcher’s attention for their applications in different fields. This review paper summarizes the investigation and analysis of the available organic and inorganic PCMs, different encapsulating techniques, characterization techniques, incorporation into fiber and pad application on textiles with practical applications in the field of smart textiles.     

三维针织间隔织物及其应用

描述了三维针织间隔织物的特性及其应用领域.具有特殊结构的三维间隔织物是用于开发新产品的新领域.这种产品与众不同的特点对多样化的应用领域,如汽车用纺织品、家用装饰品、运动纺织品、医用纺织品以及产业用纺织品等提供了更广泛的条件.     

技术防治品的高效能生产加工

引语 新能源、新材料、环保产业在全球范围内的蓬勃发展,信息技术、生物技术等高新科技和传统纺织工业日益紧密的结合,以及可再生原料、清洁生产和循环利用技术等的开发应用,为纺织工业开创新的消费领域和新的市场提供了机遇.国家与一些省市都把纺织工业列为重大战略性发展产业,给予重点扶持.     

电子信息智能纺织品的开发应用与展望

电子信息智能纺织品是将电子信息技术融合到纺织品中的一类高科技纺织品。介绍了电子信息智能纺织品的基本原理、开发现状，并展望了其发展前景。     

安全防护功能纺织品

随着对安全防护纤维认识的提高及功能整理研究的深入,多种安全防护织物相继出现,并表现出良好的发展态势。文章介绍了防紫外线织物、电磁辐射防护织物、抗静电导电织物、高能见度纺织品等安全防护功能纺织品的研究现状。     

功能性纺织品的发展趋势

介绍了国外在功能性纺织品方面的研究动态和方向,其中着重介绍了纺织复合材料和医用纺织品方面的一些情况。为国内功能性纺织品的研究与开发提供了一定的思路和方向。     

医用纺织品的研究进展

为开发生物相容性好、安全有效性能稳定的医用纺织品,对医用纺织品及其原材料的种类、构成形式、物理性能、生物性能和优缺点进行了阐述,介绍了医用纺织品的常见制备加工技术、表面处理和化学改性技术的研究进展,分析了医用纺织品的未来发展需求和趋势,以及面临的主要问题和机遇。最后指出:天然和人工合成的生物材料正在被广泛用于医用纺织品中,这些材料因其易于加工、可降解性、良好的力学性能以及生物相容性,使得医用纺织品能够用于体内植入、软组织修复、医疗保健和卫生等相关领域;医用纺织品涉及多学科交叉领域,需要生物材料、纺织和医学临床的多学科人才团队协同创新。     

EEC Inter- laboratory Tests on Methods of Analysis of Fibre Mixtures EEC Working Party on Textile Names and Labelling - Analysis

Abstract

With today's global competitive marketplace, new textile product development requires a design, marketing, materials and technology interface. An opportunity existed to examine the new textile product development processes being used by global textile companies with a variety of textile product end-uses: apparel, home textiles, transportation, industrial, nonwovens, carpets, and medical textiles. The Crawford and DiBenedetto model (2003) was used as the conceptual framework for the study and data was collected using secondary and primary data sources. A total of 24 global companies, based in the United States, comprised the sample for this study. Each company's new textile product development processes, practices, and new products were examined, with identification of key new product development concepts being utilized. Results indicated that companies were utilizing new product development (NPD) processes as a competitive tool, but are using a combination of NPD strategies to develop and launch products in the global marketplace.     

Textiles and Space: The Experience of Textile Qualities in Hospital Interior Design

Textiles and the intimate scale of interiors affect the perception of the space extensively. However, knowledge on how interior textiles can improve the experience of hospital spaces is lacking. Contemporary hospitals are often criticized as being too institutional in their physical appearance, and research suggests that more accommodating hospital interiors are needed. Concerned with this awareness, this paper presents the results from a design-based case study, observing and interviewing patients and staff in a hospital dayroom where different interior textiles were installed. The evaluation of the study indicates that patients experience the atmosphere as more accommodating in the refurbished interior, and patients express that they use the dayroom more often. The interior textiles are described as significant contributors to this improved experience. Based on these findings, the paper discusses the potential benefits of implementing textiles in hospital interior spaces in order to promote patient outcomes.     

汽车用纺织品--要求和性能特征

汽车工业设立了新标准,激烈的市场竞争要求纺织品在降低成本的同时提高性能,每一种档次的汽车都有各自的要求及各自的表现形式。同条每种结构的纺织品都有特定的优缺点,因此有必要对汽车用纺织品的要求和性能进行比较。     

浅析高科技电子织物在医疗保健领域的作用

智能纺织品属于纺织发展新兴领域,已经广泛应用于医疗保健领域,内容涵盖临床监护和药物管理。本文从智能纺织品的重要性、用户需求和需要解决的技术课题方面探讨了其发展前景。     

纺织品单向导水性能测试方法分析

为提升夏季用纺织品或运动纺织品的舒适性,在分析液态水分管理测试仪(MMT)测试方法用针排传感器测试液态水扩散状态的基础上,选用4种典型纺织品,采用MMT法和自制的图像采集系统测试了纺织品的单向导水性能,比较了纺织品的单向导水效果。结果表明:对于采用点状施加拒水剂实现单向导水功能的纺织品及嵌织导电纤维的单向导水纺织品,MMT法容易出现较大的测试误差;采用图像法动态采集纺织品正反面的导水图像的新方法,获得了较为完整的水浸润信息,可以简捷地测试纺织品单向导水性能,并得到更加精准的测试结果。采用图像法动态采集纺织品正反面的导水图像的新方法具有良好的应用前景。