Smart Textile For
Healthcare Applications

Dr. Ketankumar Vadodaria
National Institute of Design (NID),
Ahmedabad |
Introduction:
Smart textiles possess a range of cutting-edge
features that set them apart from traditional fabrics.
In an era driven by technological advancements, the
integration of technology with everyday objects has
become a fascinating reality. The integration of
technology into textiles brings several advantages.
These include enhanced functionality, improved
comfort, personalized experiences, and potential
sustainability benefits. These fabrics possess
advanced functionalities that go beyond
conventional textiles. Smart textiles are functional
textiles which can sense, react, and adapt to their
environment the surrounding and act passively,
actively, or intelligently as the required function.
With their versatility and interactivity, smart
textiles are transforming the way we interact with
clothing and textile products. These textiles find
applications in wearable technology, fashion,
healthcare, and interactive textiles. They enable the
creation of garments that can sense, transmit, and
process data, opening up possibilities for
communication, biometric monitoring, and augmented
reality experiences.
Smart textiles are engineered using
materials and textile structures to meet specific
functionalities. Smart textiles can be majorly
classified as |
● Non electronic textiles: - These fabrics are made with
smart materials / polymers and various textile structures
without electronics such as phase change textiles, chromic
textiles. Smart polymers, also known as stimuli-responsive
or intelligent polymers, are a class of materials that can
undergo reversible changes in their physical or chemical
properties in response to external stimuli such as
temperature, pH, light, electric fields, or moisture. When
integrated into textiles, smart
polymers offer unique functionalities and applications
● Electronic textiles: - These futuristic fabrics,
embedded with electronic components and interconnected
systems, have revolutionized the textile industry and
opened up endless possibilities for enhanced
functionality, comfort, and interactivity.
● Combination of both:- traditional fabrics with
interactive and functional materials, integrated with
electronic components and devices
In this review, we delve into the world of smart textiles,
exploring their key features, applications, and potential
impact on various aspects of our lives.
smart polymers in textiles
Here are some key aspects of smart polymers in textiles:
● Shape Memory Effect: Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a
type of smart polymer that can return to their original
shape from a temporary deformed state when exposed to a
specific stimulus, such as heat or light. When
incorporated into textiles, SMPs can provide garments with
the ability to change shape,
adapt to body contours, and enhance the overall fit and
comfort. For example, smart polymer fibers can enable self
-adjusting waistbands or self-shaping collars, ensuring a
personalized and ergonomic fit.
● Thermochromic Properties: Thermochromic polymers change
color with variations in temperature. When used in
textiles, these polymers can create garments that visually
indicate changes in body temperature or ambient
conditions. Thermochromic textiles have applications in
sports, healthcare, and safety clothing. For instance,
thermochromic fabrics can display color changes to
indicate the presence of heat or indicate localized
temperature variations for thermal mapping.
● Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Properties: Smart polymers that
exhibit reversible changes in hydrophilicity and
hydrophobicity can be incorporated into textiles to create
moisture-responsive fabrics. These materials can
effectively manage moisture by repelling or absorbing
water based on the environmental
conditions or wearer's perspiration levels.
Moistureresponsive textiles can enhance comfort,
breathability, and moisture management properties of
garments, making them suitable for athletic wear, outdoor
clothing, and medical textiles.
● pH-Responsive Polymers: pH-responsive polymers undergo
structural changes in response to changes in pH levels. By
integrating pH-responsive polymers into textiles, garments
can provide localized release of drugs or therapeutic
agents in response to variations in pH, making them
suitable for applications such as wound dressings or drug
delivery systems. pH-responsive textiles can enable
targeted treatments and enhance patient comfort during
medical procedures.
● Electroactive Polymers: Electroactive polymers exhibit
changes in shape, stiffness, or conductivity when
subjected to an electric field. When used in textiles,
electroactive polymers can enable the development of
wearable electronic systems, such as sensors, actuators,
or energy harvesting devices.
These textiles can be used in applications ranging from
haptic feedback in smart clothing to the integration of
electronic components directly into the fabric, enabling
seamless and flexible electronic systems.
● Light-Sensitive Polymers: Light-responsive or
photochromic polymers undergo reversible changes in color
or physical properties upon exposure to light. When
incorporated into textiles, photochromic polymers can
create garments that change color or pattern in response
to sunlight or specific light
wavelengths. This feature offers opportunities for design
versatility, fashion applications, and customizable
aesthetics in textiles.
● Smart polymers in textiles open up a wide range of
possibilities for functional, interactive, and responsive
fabrics. They enhance garment performance, comfort, and
aesthetics, while also enabling novel applications in
healthcare, sports, fashion, and other industries. As
research and development in smart polymers continue, we
can expect to see further innovations and advancements in
the field of smart textiles.
Conductive material for e textiles
Conventional textiles are nonconductive and insulative in
nature. Hence in order to make e-textiles Conductive
materials and polymers (Table 1 & Table 2) play a crucial
role by enabling the transmission of electrical signals
and creating functional circuits within fabrics. Figure 1
shows different materials from Insulator to conductive
materials
Table 1 Conductive Materials and polymers
Carbon based |
Graphene, Graphite, Activated carbon,
Carbon nanotube etc. |
Metal |
Copper, Gold, Silver, Aluminum, Steel
etc. |
Mxene |
New family of two-dimensional early
transition metal carbides and carbonitrides |
Conductive polymers |
polyacetylene (PA), polyaniline (PANI),
polypyrrole (PPy), polythiophene (PTH), poly (para -
phenylene) (PPP) , poly (phenylenevinylene) (PPV), and
polyfuran (PF) |
Table 2 List of Conducting polymers
Poly aniline , PANI |
 |
Poly pyrrole (Ppy) |
 |
Poly Thiophene (PT) |
 |
Poly ethylene dioxythiophene |
 |
Here are some commonly used conductive materials for
etextiles:
● Conductive fibres / filaments / yarns: These are yarns
or threads coated or infused with conductive materials.
Conductive yarns allow the creation of flexible and
conductive pathways within textiles, enabling the
integration of electronic components. They can be used for
stitching, embroidery, or
weaving to create conductive traces, connections, and
sensors in e-textiles.
● Conductive Inks and Paints: Conductive inks and paints
contain conductive particles dispersed in a liquid medium.
These inks can be applied using various methods, including
screen printing, inkjet printing, or brush painting, to
create conductive patterns or circuits directly on fabric
surfaces.
Conductive inks and paints offer versatility in design and
are suitable for prototyping or low-volume production of
e-textiles.
● Conductive Fabrics: Some fabrics are inherently
conductive due to their composition or the incorporation
of conductive fibers. Examples include fabrics made from
stainless steel, carbon fiber, or metallized fabrics.
These fabrics provide a conductive surface throughout the
textile, enabling the
creation of conductive pathways or electrodes without the
need for additional conductive materials.
● Conductive Elastomers: Conductive elastomers are
flexible materials that can be integrated into e-textiles
to create stretchable and conductive connections. These
materials often consist of a combination of conductive
particles and a flexible polymer matrix. Conductive
elastomers enable the
development of stretchable circuits and sensors, making
them suitable for applications that require flexibility
and durability.
● Conductive Adhesives: Conductive adhesives are materials
that contain conductive particles dispersed in an adhesive
matrix. They are used to bond electronic components to
textiles or to create conductive connections between
different parts of an e-textile. Conductive adhesives
provide reliable electrical conductivity and mechanical
stability.
● Conductive Foam or Sponge: Conductive foam or sponge
materials are porous structures that contain conductive
particles, often carbon-based, dispersed within a foam or
sponge matrix. These materials are used to create soft and
compressible conductive pads, sensors, or electrodes in
etextiles. They can be easily integrated into garments or
wearable devices to provide comfortable and responsive
interfaces.
● When selecting conductive materials for e-textiles,
factors such as conductivity, flexibility, washability,
and compatibility with manufacturing processes should be
considered. Different applications may require specific
conductive materials based on their performance
requirements and the desired functionalities of the
e-textile system.
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