Functional Fabrics

Researchers at Cornell have developed a new type of unobtrusive smart clothing that may not require you to manually log your workout, because an artificial intelligence pipeline detects movements, identifies the exercise and counts reps. It could also be useful for physical therapists monitoring the progress of patients at home.

New innovative cloth developed by a research group at the University of Waterloo requires no bulky batteries or manual controls, the warmth generated by the fabric comes entirely from solar energy, making it an environmentally friendly, self-sustaining solution for winter wear.

A research group, led by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, has come up with an ordinary silk thread, coated with a conductive plastic material, that shows promising properties for turning textiles into electricity generators.

Inspired by crushed limestone-based plasters historically used to keep houses cool in extremely sunny places, US scientists have devised a durable chalk-based fabric coating that cools the air underneath the treated fabric by up to 8° Fahrenheit.

Scientists have developed a fabric material that can convert body heat and solar energy into electricity and has the potential for energy harvesting, health monitoring and movement tracking applications. It can detect temperature changes and a range of other sensors to monitor pressure, chemical composition and more.

Ongoing work on ‘textile muscles’ has been further strengthened as researchers develop haptic sleeves that give an extra boost during heavy lifting, enable ‘remote’ hugs, help the visually impaired navigate the urban environment, and also complement VR in gaming.

Researchers in the US have created a new wearable fabric that can help urban residents survive the worst impacts of massive heat caused by global climate change, with applications in clothing, building and car design, and food storage.

New research coming from Canada’s Alberta University could help manufacturers of high-performance fibres and protective fabrics to improve their processes and take informed decisions in the selection and design of materials for more durable gear for firefighters.

Plans to integrate fibres into apparel as sensor patches with flexible circuits took a step forward as researchers have come up with a single strand of fibre that has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of a polymer, called polyaniline.

The Lenzing Fiber Identification System would now be used for its FR cellulosic fibres, promising traceability, quality assurance, and trust in protective garments.