Sports Wear as an

Application for Smart Textile

Submitted to:
Ph.D. Mohamed
Sabry
Prepared by : Engr. Mohamed Bakry
?What is the Smart Fabrics
Smart fabrics are defined as products that enable or enhance any of the
following interactions with its environment or user:
• Conducts, transfers or distributes electrical current, light energy,
thermal energy or molecular or particular matter through the material.
• Either through an external signal command from the user, or an
internal or environmental stimulus, certain physical properties of the
material change.
• Provide shielding and protection from electromagnetical and/or
radio frequency interference.
• Provide environmental and hazard protection against biological,
chemical or other threats to the integrity of the protected being or item.
• Through the incorporation of sensor and/or actuator elements, it
can perform biophysical applications.
o Design considerations in sportswear/footwear:-

Design requirements of active and performance sportswear

have produced designers with skills and knowledge in
graphics, textiles and fashion to conceive aesthetically
pleasing and ergonomically viable ranges which take
advantage of the latest advances in functional and `smart'
textiles. It is the fabrics and technology that set the trend.
Incorporation of microfibers, breathable barrier fabrics,
innovative stretch materials, intelligent textiles, interactive
materials such as phase-change materials and shape-memory
polymers, and wearable technology as a part of the functional
design system in sportswear, will become routine in the
product development process.
The needs of consumers for active sport a are performance,
o Smart textile materials :-
o Phase-change materials.
o Shape memory materials.
o Auxetic materials.
o Chromic materials.
o Conductive fibers and textile.
o Other smart materials “Holofiber – Stomatex - d3o (dee-
three-oh)”.
 Phase-Change Materials :-
Specific for the phase-change materials (PCMs) or latent heat storage materials
is that they change between solid and liquid state in the temperature range
where the material is used. A change from solid to liquid (melting) involves the
absorption of heat, and similarly a change from liquid to solid the release of
heat, the absorbed and released heat acts to level out the heat and cold stress,
respectively.
The phase-change effect occurs when the melting or crystallization temperature
limit is crossed. for example, when a person is moving frequently between warm
and cold environments or when the physical stress is changing frequently
between hard work and rest. The absorption and release of heat is a repeatable
cycle, which takes place at the skin temperature without unpleasant low and
high temperatures.
 Shape Memory Materials :-

Shape memory materials (SMMs) react to changing environmental

conditions generally increasing and decreasing temperature ± by
changing their geometrical shape. The production principle is that the
material is first processed to receive its permanent shape. Afterwards it
is deformed to a temporary shape, which is fixed. Heating the product
above the transition temperature induces the shape memory effect and
the recovery of the permanent shape can be seen. Ideally, the change
is reversible.
 Auxetic Materials :-

When stretched in the longitudinal direction, auxetic materials get fatter

rather than thinner, in contrast to conventional materials. Poisson's
ratio, which is defined as the ratio of the lateral contractile strain to the
longitudinal tensile strain for materials undergoing uniaxial tension in
the longitudinal direction, is in the region of 0.2±0.4 for most solids.
Auxetic materials have a negative Poisson's ratio.
 Chromic Materials :-
Chromic materials change color due to different external stimuli
(light, heat, electric current, pressure, liquid or electronic beam). In
photochromic pigments the structure changes when the pigment is
exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation, causing a color change.
The reversible change can be colorless to color or, by a combination
of photochromic and conventional dyes, one color to another color.
In thermochromics pigments the change is caused by rising and
falling temperature. In a crystallized low temperature state there is
an interaction between electron donors and electron acceptors in
the pigment, which produces the color. When the material is heated
the electron acceptor is solved and the pigment becomes colorless.
 Conductive Fibers and Textiles :-
Textile materials have generally a low electric conductivity, they act as
electric insulators. Conductive metal- or carbon-based fibers have been
inserted in some special products, for example to decrease the
electrostatic charging problem and to shield electromagnetic radiation.
With the increasing interest in wearable electronic systems, new
conductive materials have been developed for sensing, actuating and
signal transmission. Conductive components (metal, carbon or metal salt
particles) can be added to the textiles in all stages of the production
process (fiber, yarn and fabric formation, coating) using conventional or
new techniques.
 Other Smart Materials:-
 Holofiber:
A composite material of polyester and finely ground minerals and gemstones, it is said to respond
to the energy generated by the body and to utilize environmental energy, allowing the body to tap
normally unused resources and improve vital physiological processes. The oxygen levels in body
tissues increase, which results in improved metabolism, increased energy as well as faster recovery
from exertion.
 Stomatex:
Stomatex is the closed cell foam material which formed with a pattern of dome-shaped vapor
chambers, each with a tiny pore in the center. Perspiration moisture rises into the chambers and
exits through the pores. Body movements cause a pumping effect and increase the heat and
moisture release.
 d3o (dee-three-oh):
A new material for different types of impact protection has been introduced under the trade name
d3o. In the normal state, the molecules flow past each other at low rates of movement, but when
they are subject to an impact that would require them to move very quickly they lock together to
form a rigid protective barrier. As soon as the impact has passed, they unlock to provide normal
flexibility. Thus the garment does not restrict body movements as conventional body armor
products but give protection when it is needed.
o Wearable Technology
A totally new generation of garments has been created with the
incorporation of information and communication technology (ICT) into the
clothing. The requirements of wearable computers are:
 The hardware device must contain a central processing unit (CPU).
 The device is able to run user-defined software applications.
 The system is supported by (worn on) the user's body enabling a
greater hands free computing and/or non-invasive biomonitoring
functionality.
 The computer should always be accessible and ready to interact with
the wearer, either through the use of a wireline and/or by wireless
communication.
 Wearable Technology functions:-

Their functions can be manifold: biophysical monitoring

(heart rate, ECG, temperatures, moisture, etc.), amusement
(music, games), positioning (GPS), motion monitoring or
muscle actuation, communication, etc. Many technical
questions, such as power supply to the system, interfacing,
signal transmission, care and durability properties, and
general usability, have to be considered at the
development stage.
 Some applications for Wearable Technology:-

 The LifeShirtTM has been developed for monitoring of several physiological signals. It
consists of three parts: a garment, a data recorder and analysis software. Sensors in
the garment continuously monitor respiration, electrocardiogram (ECG), activity, the
data are analyzed and visually displayed. The system has been extensively tested, also
in extreme conditions such as air force pilot testing, motor racing and long-haul trailer
truck driving, and it is said to be reliable, comfortable and user-friendly.
 The Cyberia clothing ensemble for snowmobile drivers was developed. Snowmobile
drivers are frequently driving alone in remote arctic areas, and there is a risk for
several emergency scenarios. The three-layer clothing ensemble was developed to
improve the wearer's chances of survival. The PCM underwear includes sensors for
monitoring heart rate and body temperature, and the rest of the sensors and devices
are attached to the outer garment. An accelerometer monitors movements, a GPS
pinpoints the position and a GOTO arrow compass shows the rescue direction.
 Thanks & Best
Regards

Engr. Mohamed Bakry