Rethinking robotics
June 11, 2018
Soft robotics and exoskeletons offer human-centric solutions. The ONYX-powered exoskeleton is designed to relieve the stress on the wearer’s knees using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm to apply a power boost to the mechanical actuators. Photo: Lockheed Martin. On March 19, 2018, the New York Times ran a headline that said,
Read MoreThe smart clothes future
May 21, 2018
LOOMIA’s technology launches in major menswear line this fall. The LOOMIA TILEtag collects information about the wearer and the garment, which the wearer can access and choose to share with the brand. Photo: LOOMIA. While wrist-worn mini-computers are now commonplace, a New York, N.Y.-based company is investing in a different
Read MoreUnderstanding implantable textiles
May 21, 2018
How textile-based biomaterials and medical devices support human body repair. This stent graft is a new compound design that merges stent technology with a traditional textile vascular graft for the treatment of an aneurysm. Photo: Dr. C. C. Chu. Textile-based biomaterials or biotextiles have the longest history in the field
Read MoreNew directions in nonwovens
May 7, 2018
Commercializing innovations and sustainability issues highlighted at recent conference. The nonwovens sector has diversified from being a single-use product industry to an advanced fibrous materials industry. This shift has been underscored by the possible adoption of a new definition for nonwovens: engineered fibrous assembly, based on balloting at the International
Read MoreAddressing the issues in smart fabrics
May 7, 2018
IFAI’s Smart Fabrics Summit in Washington attracts a large audience of industry participants. Schoeller Textil and Osmotex have signed a production agreement for HYDRO_BOT, a new technology for moisture management in clothing. The product was showcased at the Smart Fabrics Summit in Washington, D.C. It will available in consumer garments
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Commerce shares insights at Smart Fabric Summit
April 26, 2018
IFAI and the Dept. of Commerce sponsored the event April 24 in Washington, D.C. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross responded to IFAI’S Advanced Textile Products division chair Amit Kapoor’s questions at the Smart Fabrics Summit April 24. Photo: Kaveh Sardari. “I’m taking this up there with me,” U.S. Secretary
Read MoreDeveloping the xEMU for deep space exploration
April 23, 2018
NASA’s next generation spacesuit will require new textiles to meet extreme demands. The design of the new xEMU spacesuit will utilize some of the technologies in thIs NASA Z-2 suit, which is a technology demonstrator for a planetary surface suit. Photo: NASA Human space exploration is one of the most
Read MoreActive and smart
April 9, 2018
A range of new materials and technologies are adding functionalities to textiles. A functional nonwoven in this ballistic shield provides a comfortable layer on the inside with an abrasion-resistant top layer. Photo: Texas Tech University. Textiles are well established as passive materials offering comfort and protection, as well as design and fashion
Read MoreNew technologies are redefining today’s textiles
March 26, 2018
From raw materials to manufacturing processes, the word “textile” takes on new meanings. Textile technology is undergoing a revolution, with innovative structures, raw materials and manufacturing platforms creating new fabrics that defy old-school definitions. Introductory textile science classes taught us that textiles were materials that could be woven, knit, crocheted,
Read MoreTextiles in hybrids
March 12, 2018
Manufacturers are finding new ways to enhance product performance with textiles. As the demands made on textiles have increased, the nature of what is defined as “textile” has greatly expanded, often including non-textiles or treating them in a textile manner. Hybrids that bring together different materials and processes can offer
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