A2 Textiles

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A2 Textiles

• Intelligent Fabrics
• with New Properties

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Types of Intelligent Fabrics

• Smart fabrics
• Micro-encapsulation
• Sun protective clothing
• Wearable electronics

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Smart Fabrics

• Added characteristics that do more than make you
  look and feel good.
• Can be made to be breathable, waterproof,
  windproof.
• Often for sport or outdoor uses.

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Smart Fabrics

• Some smart fabrics are intelligent ie they
  respond to the needs of the wearer in different
  environments.
• This is called Biomimetics (using nature as the
  design basis)
• Stomatex allows skin to breathe like a leaf which
  transpires but also stops rain getting in.
• Stomatex keeps body temperature even so the
  person doesnt sweat but if it does tiny pumps
  within the fabric remove the sweat vapour.

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Smart Fabrics - Stomatex

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Micro-Encapsulation

• Fragrances can be micro-encapsulated into
  fabrics.
• What types of clothes would need to be
  fragranced?
• Garments that get smelly.
• Aromas can be based on fruits and flowers.

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Micro-Encapsulation

• Can be applied to any fabric with an adhesive
  which is thermally fixed.
• Capsules release fragrance during movement so
  scent is not transferred to other garments in a
  drawer.
• Effect is semi-permanent (40 washes)
• Used in lingerie.

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Sun Protective Clothing

• Protects wearer from UV rays.
• Polyester is the best fabric.
• DuPont has introduced Coolmax performance
  fabrics.
• Uses the same rating as sun creams ie UPF 15,
  UPF 25 and UPF 40 (workers in Australia are
  expected to wear 50).

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Coolmax

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Wearable Electronics

• Smart fabrics with micro-electronics in the
  structure.
• This developing technology will extend human
  performance.
• Examples include a business suit with a mobile
  phone incorporated, childs anorak with a
  tracking device, bras to monitor heart rate,
  aerobic outfits with music systems in the pants,
  disco wear which changes colour to music, golf
  jacket with sensors to monitor the swing.

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Soft Switching

• Wearable electronics controlled by soft switches.
• Switches and keypads are sewn into products using
  printing, coating and embroidery.
• Switches are washable, durable and like
  conventional textiles.
• Will be used to dial telephones, pager messages,
  play music.
• It will also be incorporated into interior
  textiles to control lighting, appliances, tvs and
  stereos.