TEXTILES.ORG
Side-by-side conductivity and flexibility
December 18th, 2023
Sample fibers, which are cotton on one side and conductive polymer on the other. Photo: Washington State University. Electrically conductive "smart fabrics" have many potential applications, but their specialized fibers typically aren't as soft and flexible as those made of regular materials. An experimental new two-faced fiber, however, is both flexible and conductive. Developed by a team […]
The complex wearables market
September 26th, 2022
Manufacturing to scale is arguably the most significant challenge facing the smart materials and wearable technology industries—and it’s not just desirable, but essential for growth and survival. Without full commercialization, the drive for new developments and research are in jeopardy. There is no shortage of interest and enthusiasm amongst stakeholders, which begs the question of […]
New problems, new solutions
November 8th, 2021
OPT Industries creates a range of custom-designed products from a single polymer 3D printing process. Photo: OPT Industries. Addressing the challenges of scaling up for e-textiles and other novel materials. by Janet Preus “We still have the post-development valley of death,” says Clare King, president of Propel LLC. Her company has been involved in developing […]
Five universities team up to design futuristic materials
October 25th, 2021
Megan Valentine, a professor of mechanical engineering and co-director of the California NanoSystems Institute at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), has been awarded a $1.8 million collaborative grant by the National Science Foundation to design and create next-generation materials inspired and empowered by biological cells. Valentine will be working alongside a team of physicists, […]
Energy for smart materials and systems
August 12th, 2019
New developments address power and its integration into the production process—for whatever applications can be imagined. by Marie O’Mahony The means chosen in energy provision for smart textiles is largely dictated by the application, or, more precisely, the needs and behavior of the user. This is a meaningful development, taking it from the typical questions […]
Researchers investigate seeds’ natural “armor”
October 8th, 2018
Biomimicry has revealed ways that nature can be copied to create new products and improve existing ones. Recently, a team of researchers from the University of New Hampshire in the U.S. has shown how the seed coats of certain plants could help in the development of flexible materials that are strong and resilient. An article […]
Better together
March 10th, 2017
Collaborative efforts support growth in the smart textiles industry. The more high tech an industry is, the greater the range of expertise it may need. Advanced textiles, particularly smart materials, are a prime example of this. Textiles often undergo a variety of processes requiring specialized skills and equipment, so collaboration is essential to the industry. […]