Textile applications smart polymers

Hu, J., Meng, H., Li, G., Ibekwe, S.I., 2012. A review of sthnuU-responsive polymers for smart textile applications. Smart Mater. Struct. 21, 053001. 

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. 

Seeberg, T.M., R0yset, A., Jahren, S., Strisland, F., 2011. Printed organic conductive polymers thermocouples in textile and smart clothing application. In 33rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS. 

Bashir, T., 2013. Conjugated Polymer-Based Conductive Fibers for Smart Textile Applications. University of Boras, Sweden. 

Multidisciplinary research involving scientists of very different disciplines will be required to make future advances in smart polymers and their applications. Organic chemists, polymer chemists, material engineers, physics, biologists, pharmacists and medical doctors will have to work together in a very close and fluid manner to respond to the necessities of society and developing new materials that will improve the quality of life, not only in the medical field, but also in the areas of architecture, textiles, food, data storage, etc. 

Different types of smart polymers have significant effects on the applications used in textile technology. There are a variety of smart polymers that can be used with specific processing techniques, such as finishing, spinning, weaving or laminating. It is important to use the correct type of smart polymer for... 

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. 

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. 

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