Smart, technical and modern textiles- 1.2 Flashcards
what are smart materials?
Materials which can react to external stimuli/changes in their environment- such as temperature, light levels, and pressure (force)
what are the three things which smart materials can react to?
- temperature
- light levels
- pressure (force)
what can smart materials be used for?
smart materials can be used in health and safety or sports wear applications
what can smart materials do? (8 things)
- monitor body functions and administer medicine/give warnings
- can maintain a personal micro-climate e.g Stomatex and Outlast
- have chromatic properties and change colour in response to specific stimuli, such as moisture or light levels
- have shape memory alloy
- are self cleaning e.g nano-technology fabrics that are triggered by sunlight
- can use biometrics and imitate nature, e.g Fastskin and Stomatex
- can generate solar power when exposed to sunlight
- can sense and track movement e,g Sensfloor smart carpets
what are technical textiles?
textiles which are made for their working properties rather than their aesthetic properties
what are some examples of modern and technical textiles?
- kevlar and nomex
- microfibres
- micro-encapsulated fibres
- Gore-tex
- phosphorescent textiles
- fabrics that wick away moisture from the body e.g coolmax
- fabrics that protect against bacteria e.g purista
what are phosphorescent materials?
materials which glow in the dark
how can phosphorescent dyes be incorporated into a fabric?
Phosphorescent dyes can be incorporated into synthetic fibres and yarns, used for textile printing pastes or applied as a surface coating
what are phosphorescent materials used for?
high-visibility safety clothing for workers in dark areas. they can also be used in clothing to give novelty effects
what is a microencapsulated fibre?
a microfibre which has tiny capsules containing chemicals embedded into it’s hollow center
The chemicals in micro-encapsulated fibres are…
released slowly and absorbed through the skin of the wearer. The chemicals break down slowly, so the effects last a long time
what are the uses for micro-encapsulated fibres?
for cosmetic and health reasons
what are the benefits of micro-encapsulated fibres?
-because the chemicals from the hollow centre are released slowly, the effects last a long time
why are ceramic and carbon fibres incredibly important in the production of nano fibres?
Because carbon and ceramic fibres are incredibly strong and lightweight
How are nanofibres made using carbon and Ceramic fibres?
The fibres are used in an electro-spinning process and are collected in sheets which resemble non-woven felt- these sheets of fabric can be used as breathable membranes
what are carbon fibres used in the production of?
electro-conductive fibres
what is polar fleece made from?
Recycled plastic bottles
what is polar fleece?
A brushed, weft knit fabric with a third pile yarn knitted in to give a soft, dense nap which increases insulation and makes the fabric much warmer to wear
what is a microfibre?
A very fine, synthetic fibre mainly made from polyester and polyamide
what are the properties of microfibres?
-extremely strong
-soft
-lightweight
-drape well
-used in a variety of clothing products
what is a nanofibre?
a fibre which is less then one micron in diameter
how are nano fibres produced?
using an electro-spinning process. the fibres are then collected in the form of sheets that resemble non woven felt
what are the properties of nanofibres?
-lightweight
-strong
-fine
-delicate to the touch
what can nanofibres be used for?
when nano fibres are applied to a fabric as a fabric finish, they protect it from grease and water-borne stains. They also make a fibre much more absorbent
what is a specific example of how micro-encapsulated fibres are used?
They can be used for caffeine encapsulated tights which help to stimulate leg veins, which reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
