Polymer fibres smart textile

Advances in polymer and fibre science and in the manufacturing technologies of fibres, yarns and fabrics have been the driving force behind the development of smart textiles and innovative products that fulfil customer expectations. In contrast with the situation that existed 20years ago, these products now find applications primarily in sectors outside the textile field. Therefore, fibre, yam and clothing producers are in constant pursuit of developing new materials in order to meet the demands for both traditional and technical textiles to be used for applications outside the textile industry. 

Smart textile and polymer fibres for structural health monitoring... 

Most smart polymers can be triggered in a variety of ways such as the response of SMPs to thermal, chemical, magnetic and water stimuli. Another example is the way a hydrogel can respond to pH, heat, light, magnetic fields, etc. These diverse stimuli make it possible to use smart polymers in different applications. Smart polymers used in textiles usually appear in various forms such as film, fibre, solution or gel to meet different processing requirements in textiles. 

In smart polymer applications in textiles, PCMs and colour change polymers mostly take the form of microcapsules. A microcapsule is an intermediate state which is added to solutions, fibres, films and nonwovens to incorporated a smart function into the textile. These materials may be incorpated into textiles by printing, coating and dyeing. For printing and coating, the materials are microencapsulated first and then coated or printed onto the fabric surface by common methods such as the pad-dry-cure process. 

Smart polymers exhibit various properties. But how to use these functions in textiles is important for the smart function transformed from polymer to fibres and fabrics. The following contents introduce the functions transformation of smart polymers by various forms such as fibre, solution, film and different processing methods such as spinning, finishing, lamination and coating. 

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