Why Do We Wear Clothes

Keeps Us Comfortable Cold or Warm

Clothing Protects Us The First Dimension
Why Do We Wear Clothes

Makes Us Look Good
Clothing is Fashionable The Second Dimension
It is Pervasive
INTRODUCTION
Since the 19th Century, revolutionary changes have been
occurring at an unprecedented rate in science and technology
with a profound impact on our lives

Inventions of ICs, computers, the Internet, discovery and
complete mapping of the human genome, and many more have
transformed the entire world

The technology has progressed so that manufactured fibers and
their products surpass natural fibers in many aspects

Textiles can now be designed for specialized applications

Biological routes for synthesizing polymers or textile processing
represent an environmentally friendly, sustainable way of
utilizing natural resources

Textiles Materials for Every Need
Optimized moisture
management
Better heat flow control
Improved thermal
insulation
Breathability
High performance in
hazard protection
Environmental friendly

Increased abrasion
resistance
Health control and
healing aid
Body control
Easy care
High aesthetic appeal
Enhanced handle
High/low visibility

Engineered/Smart Textile Materials
HIGH
PERFORMANCE
Comfort
Durability
Protection
Appearance
Retention
Sustainable Resource No Environmental
Harm
Safe Human Use
The Evolution of Intelligent
Textiles
SMART TEXTILES
Smart textiles are materials that are developed and/or
designed for a special need or application where a very high
performance is required

Smart textiles may combine fabrics with glass, ceramics,
metal, or carbon to produce lightweight hybrids with
incredible properties. Sophisticated finishes, such as
silicone coatings and holographic laminates, transform
color, texture, and even form.

We are inspired to mimic nature in order to create clothing
materials with higher levels of functions and smartness


Traditional Textiles
Sensors & Processors
The Future
Convergence.
Smart/interactive textiles (SIT) are materials and
structures that sense and react to environmental
conditions or stimuli, such as those from mechanical,
thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic or other
sources.

SIT are no longer a science-fiction fantasy. For
example, there are in the market self-cleaning
carpets, memory-shaped and environment-
responsive textiles, and anti-insomniac micro-
fibers.

According to the manner of reaction, SIT
can be divided into:

Passive smart materials, which can only sense the
environmental condition or stimuli,

Active smart materials, which sense and react to the
condition or stimuli,

Very smart materials, which can sense, react and adapt
themselves accordingly, and

Intelligent materials, which are those capable of responding
or activated to perform a function in a manual or pre-
programmed manner
Processing
Trigger or
Stimuli
Sensing
Actuation
Response
or Action
C
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More than 60% of the U.S. population ages 15 to 50 will
carry or wear a wireless computing and communications
device at least six hours a day by 2007 - Gartner
Wearable Computing
Reflective Technology
A technology has been created
to convert proprietary
materials into miniature
reflectors that, when
imbedded into fabric by the
millions, reflect oncoming
light, such as automobile
headlights, in a way that
illuminates the full silhouette
of a person, bicycle or any
other object.
Protective Flex
The new smart response fiber is
proving to enhance passenger safety
because of its unique energy-
management properties.

Securus is the first in a new category of polyester
copolymer fibers being developed for managed-load
applications. It combines polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
which provides restraining properties, and polycaprolactone
(PCL), which provides flexibility and cushioning

During a collision, Securus fiber seat belts protect the
passenger in a three-step process

Thermal Sensitivity
SmartSkin hydrogel is a new technology
involving a hydrophilic/hydrophobic copolymer,
which is embedded in an open-cell foam layer
bonded to the inside of a closed-cell neoprene
layer in a composite wet suit fabric with nylon or
nylon/Lycra outer and inner layers.
SmartSkin absorbs cold water that has flushed into the suit and
expands to close openings at the hands, feet and neck, preventing
more water from entering.
ANTI-MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY
An anti-microbial technology has been developed by which it
embeds AgION, a silver-based inorganic zeolite, in a solution-
dyed polyester Fossfibre bicomponent fiber.

The bicomponent fibers in Fossfibre are specially designed so
that AgION is found only on the sheath, providing controlled
release for optimum exposure to the destructive bacteria. The
silver ions from the ceramic compound are released at a slow and
steady rate. Ambient moisture in the air causes low-level release
that effectively maintains an anti-microbial surface. As the
humidity increases and the environment becomes ideal for
bacteria growth, more silver is released.

Phase Change Materials
Outlast temperature-regulating
technology effectively recycles body
heat, keeping the wearers skin
temperature within a comfortable
range.
Outlast is a paraffin wax compound that is micro-
encapsulated into thousands of miniscule,
impenetrable, hard shells. It recycles body heat by
absorbing, storing, distributing and releasing heat on
a continuous basis, keeping the wearers skin
temperature within a comfortable range.
Nano Technology
Nano-particles are permanently attached to cotton or synthetic
fibers. The change occurs at the molecular level, and the particles
can be configured to imbue the fabric with various attributes.
Nano-technology combines the performance characteristics
associated with synthetics with the hand and feel of cotton
Nano-fibers 1/1000 the size of a typical cotton fiber are attached to
the individual fibers. The changes to the fibers are undetectable
and do not affect the natural hand and breathability of the fabric
Nano-fibers attached to
cotton fibers
Nano-fibers cause
liquids to roll off
Bio-mimics
Fibers have been developed that can
quickly change their color, hue, depth
of shade or optical transparency by
application of an electrical or magnetic
field could have applications in
coatings,
additives or stand alone fibers.
The change in color is due to the absence of specific
wavelengths of light; it varies due to structural changes with
the application of an electromagnetic field.
Detection of Vital Signals
Sensatex is developing a SmartShirt System
specifically for the protection of public safety
personnel, namely firefighters, police
officers, and rescue teams. Used in
conjunction with a wireless-enabled radio
system, the SmartShirt can monitor the
health and safety of public safety
personnel/victims trapped in a building or
underneath rubble with the ability to detect
the exact location of victims through
positioning capability. In addition to
monitoring vital signs, the system can detect
the extent of falls, and the presence of
hazardous gases; it also offers two-way voice
communication
Intelligent Textiles
Physiological Monitoring
Global Positioning System
(GPS)
Textiles integrated with sensory
devices driven by a GPS can detect a
users exact location anytime and in
any weather. Interactive electronic
textiles with integrated GPS enhance
safety by quickly locating the wearer
and allowing the suit to be heated. GPS
can provide added safety for
firefighters and emergency personnel
by facilitating offsite monitoring of
vitals
Wireless, hands-free communication
Fabric area networks (FANs) enable electronic devices to exchange
digital information, power, and control signals within the users
personal space and remote locations. FANs use wireless RF
communication links using currents measuring one nanoamp; these
currents can transmit data at speed equivalent to a 2400-baud modem
Warning Signaling
A combination of sensors and small flexible light emitting displays
(FLED) can receive and respond to stimuli from the body, enabling a
warning signal to be displayed or sent. The sensors can monitor EKG,
heart rate, respiration, temperature, and pulse oximetry readings. If vital
signals were below critical values, a FLED would automatically display,
for example, a flashing red light, and a wireless communication system
could send a distress signal to a remote location.
CONCLUSION
Fibers are relentlessly replacing traditional materials in many
more applications.

From super-absorbent diapers, to artificial organs, to
construction materials for moon-based space stations. Heat
generating/storing fibers/fabrics are now being used in skiwear,
shoes, helmets, etc.

Fabrics and composites integrated with optical fibers sensors are
used to monitor bridges and buildings.

Garments integrated with sensors and motherboards can detect
and transmit injury and health information of the wearer.

Biological tissues and organs, like ears and noses, are grown from
textile scaffolds made from bio-degradable fibers.

Integrated with nano-materials, textiles are imparted with
very high energy absorption capacity and other functions
such as stain proofing, abrasion resistance, light emission,
etc.

The clothing and electronic industries are looking for the
killer application, the next big thing that will introduce
wearable computing to a mass market. The killer
application forN wearable computing is to convey personal
identity information. This is called fashion and it is mostly
visual.