Active smart textiles

Smart textiles can be defined as textiles that are able to sense and respond to changes in their environment. They may be divided into two classes passive and active smart textiles. Passive smart textiles have the ability to change their properties according to an environmental stimulation. Shape memory materials, hydrophobic or hydrophilic textiles, etc. are part of this category. 

II generation reactive, sensing stknnh from the environment, integrating an actuator function and a sensing device (Active Smart Textiles). The actuators act upon the detected signal either directly or from a central control unit ... 

The multifunctional textiles such as fashion and environmental protection, ballistic and chemical protection, flame protection are all passive systems. The smart textiles are a new generation of fibers, yams, fabrics and garments that are able to sense stimuli and changes in tiieir environments, such as mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic and optical changes, and then respond to these changes in predetermined ways. They are multifunctional textile systems that can be classified into three categories of passive smart textiles, active smart textiles and very smart textiles [33],... 

Looking at the overview in Table 7.1 based on the level of embodiment, we can conclude that a large part of the services are based on proprioceptive data measured by the smart textile component, for example, all the applications (except for Zoll LifeVest) measure movement activity. Some applications also measure complex physiological data. The OMsignal shirt can extract breathing information and ECG measurements and the Owlet Smart Sock measures skin temperature and oxygen level. From all the examples it is clear that there are new services emerging because of the tremendous amounts of sensor data that can be collected from our body and our environment. 

Figure 7. Left The design makes it possible to vary the number of periods and hence die amount of bending Right Evaluation of (he d ign measurement of the respiratory activity of a human adult (healdqr volunteer) using the smart textile with the fibre optic sensor... 

The IWL rich in ceramides are considered promising candidates to be used as active compounds in the next step of the project, in order to obtain the smart textiles with beneficial properties for sensitive skins. 

From the experimental results obtained it seems clear that more work has to be done in the field of microcapsules application to optimize the process. In our opinion, more robust arguments are needed at an experiment level in onier to quantify the benefits of smart textile vvdth specific active principles incorporated. 

The fascinating world of smart textiles is rapidly becoming an integral part of our daily life, making us safer, healthier, more relaxed, and more productive at work. Textiles functionalized with microcapsules that are loaded with an active agent contribute to a higher standard of life. 

However, functions of these smart textile stmctures could still be improved and their role optimized. Bringing the textile/microcapsule systems for controlled release of active agents to a higher level demands a multidisciplinary approach. Considering all aspects of the controlled release systems such as active agent formulations, microcapsule polymer wall composition, encapsulation approach, and embedding loaded microcapsules into textile structures could push the limits of smart textiles even further. 

Textiles are not only to protect/cover or skin but show self-expression, taste, and personality of the wearer. They can also demonstrate socioeconomic status and cultural movements. Moreover, in the modem fashion world, textiles are highly relied on for their beauty and aesthetic appeal. Recent advancements in wearable devices have extended the functionality of textile materials to smart textiles. Now the term smart textiles is referred to as active or passive depending on the placement of actuators. If the actuator is embedded in the textile, then it is active otherwise is passive. Smart textiles play a key role in our day-to-day life, including the fields of health monitoring, personal trackers, military use, education, home appliances, transportation, gaming, entertainment, and music. Table 9.3 shows the applications of smart/inteUigent textiles to various areas. 

Colour and pattern change are two predominant abilities of smart textiles. How can these two features be used to create an active interaction with human emotions in real life However, before we answer this question let us try to discuss our previous knowledge of colour and pattern. 

Among the various categories of smart textiles and flexible materials, which include optically, mechanically, chemically, electrically, and thermally activated substances/ stmctures (Tao, 2001), several have shown large opportunities of applications in PPE. This includes wearable electronics, for example, physiological condition, temperature, and humidity sensors, power and data transmitters, and end-of-life indicators, which are the subject of the next chapter of this book. Various types of smart flexible materials have also found their way into PPE, for instance, as responsive barriers, self-decontaminating membranes, thermoregulating layers, and shock-absorbing patches. 

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