Keyword: Textiles

Briefs: Wearables
The fibers measure subtle and complex fabric deformations.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
By incorporating a special type of plastic yarn and using heat to slightly melt it — a process called thermoforming — the researchers were able to greatly improve the precision of pressure sensors woven into multilayered knit textiles, which they call 3DKnITS.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

A research team developed a thread made of conductive cellulose that offers practical possibilities for electronic textiles. Sewing the electrically conductive cellulose threads into...

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Briefs: Materials

Wearable electronic components incorporated directly into fabrics have been developed that could be used for flexible circuits, healthcare monitoring, energy conversion, and other applications....

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Briefs: Wearables
The device ultimately should be able to provide accurate signals from a person who is walking, running, or climbing stairs.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The Slinky-like sensor survives washing machines, cars, and hammers.
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Briefs: Energy
Invisibly small nanotubes aligned as fibers and sewn into fabrics can turn heat from the Sun or other sources into energy.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
A method converts cotton into sugar, which can be turned into spandex, nylon, or ethanol.
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Briefs: Wearables
Textiles and items of clothing can be converted into e-textiles without affecting their original properties.
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5 Ws: Energy
Fibers sewn into fabrics can turn heat from the Sun into energy that could power textile electronics.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Comfortable, form-fitting garments could be used to remotely track patients’ health.
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Briefs: Communications
The next generation of waterproof smart fabrics can be laser-printed and made in minutes.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Computers or smartphones with folding screens, smart clothing, and wearable sensors all require an energy source, which is usually a lithium-ion battery. These are typically heavy and rigid, making them...

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Briefs: Materials
By emulating the natural cellular architecture of wood, green products such as clothes, packaging, and furniture can be manufactured with unique properties.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
The material could be used in smart textiles, medical devices, and tissue engineering.
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Briefs: Wearables
The material was designed specifically for biomedical or wearable technologies, since sweat and volatile organic compounds evaporate away from the skin.
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Briefs: Wearables
Bioactive inks printed on wearable textiles can map conditions over the entire surface of the body.
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Briefs: Communications
Smart adaptive clothing can lower the body temperature of the wearer in hot climates.
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Briefs: Materials
This coating could lead to safely reusable personal protective equipment.
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Briefs: Internet of Things
The rainproof, stainproof technology turns clothing into self-powered remotes while turning away bacteria.
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Q&A: Materials
Drexel Professor Genevieve Dion is coating yarn with the highly conductive, two-dimensional material MXene.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Equipment-free textile detectors could be used in public health, workplace safety, military, and rescue applications.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
The device could impact composites manufacturing and health monitoring.
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Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics

Researchers have created a fabric that automatically regulates the amount of heat that passes through, depending on conditions; for example, when conditions are warm and moist — such as those of a...

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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Self-Powered, Washable, Wearable Displays

Clothing usually is formed with textiles and has to be both wearable and washable for daily use; however, smart clothing has had a problem with its power sources and moisture permeability, which causes the devices to malfunction. To solve this problem, a textile-based, wearable display module technology...

Q&A: Semiconductors & ICs

Professor Hopkins and University of Virginia colleagues — in collaboration with materials scientists at Penn State, the University...

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Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Liquid metal printing is integral to the flexible electronics field. Additive manufacturing enables fast fabrication of intricate designs and circuitry. The field features...

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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
Reducing Moisture in Natural Fibers

Biological transformation focuses on the sustainable use of biological resources such as plants or microorganisms. In the future, it is expected to reduce reliance on fossil fuels such as oil, coal, or gas, and help tackle major challenges such as climate change and global population growth. It offers options...

Briefs: Materials
Fabric Converts Kinetic Energy into Electric Power

A fabric was developed that converts kinetic energy into electric power. The greater the load applied to the textile and the wetter it becomes, the more electricity it generates. The woven fabric generates electricity when it is stretched or exposed to pressure. The fabric can currently generate...