Smart Materials
AQA GCSE REVISION
Biomimetics
These fabrics have been designed to mimic nature
Speedo’s Fastskin® swimsuit was developed
using V-shaped fibres which mimic the ridges
found on the skin of a shark
Stomatex® is a
lightweight, strong
& flexible material
that mimics
transpiration in
plants.
Modern Textiles
From Bathing to
Swimming to
Where next?
Swim wear to this day is made using
the warp knitting method of
construction. Unlike Latex Lycra
does not loose its elasticity when
washed.
BIOMIMETICS
Michael Phelps won 8 Gold medals in the
2008 Olympics in Beijing wearing a Speedo
Fastskin swimsuit, designed to mirror the
efficiency of shark skin.
The Fastskin swimsuit is inspired in the
shape and texture of shark skin.
Shark skin's texture varies to adapt to water
flows and currents against its body, in order
to navigate in the most efficient manner.
Modern Textiles
BIOMIMETICS
Modern Textiles
Patagonia environmentally benign
wetsuits. The neoprene outer is
of 80% non-petroleum based
ingredients. (Fortune Mag
reckoned it was made with
crushed limestone but the
Patagonia site is coy on that
aspect.)
The inner lining is a chloridefree merino wool grid bonded to
recycled polyester.
Kneepads are PVC-free and are
said to be more durable and
grippier.
Coming for both men and women
in 2mm and 3mm versions, to
span water temps from 48 to
65°F (9 to 18°C).
Long and shortie styles, although
limited availability just now.
::Patagonia Wetsuits.
BIO-RUBBER MATERIALS.
Modern
Textiles
Using materials like "Bio Stretch" rubber and "Eco Flex" exterior, Body Glove has created
the "first environmentally friendly wetsuit." While the folks at Patagonia might have
something to say about that, Body Glove's "Eco Wetsuit" can boast 100% petroleum-free
materials which consume "1/10th the amount of energy normally used in the manufacturing
of standard petroleum based wetsuits." As we've noted before, surfing and TreeHugging
go together like fair trade chocolate and organic peanut butter; it's good to see more
ways to walk the walk (and, hey, if you can look as bad-ass as this guy, why not?) before
paddling out for some tasty waves. Get all the details about the Eco Wetsuit at ::Body
Glove via ::Core77
Modern Textiles
NEOPRENE
Polyurethane
Jack O'Neill
Jack is the creator of the wetsuit back in
the early 50's. Jack first came across a
fabric now widely known in the surf world as
neoprene. Strangely enough he discovered it
on the floor of an aeroplane! He ordered
masses of the material and started
stitching it together to make vests, and
later suits.
In 1952 Jack opened his first surf shop in
San Francisco, California, and appropriately
called it 'Surf Shop'.
Speedo The full-bodied Fastskin FSII Ice suits 2006
•
Fastkskin FS II are textured
with bumps and ridges in key
places, similar to those on a
shark's skin. These ridges serve
to channel the water over the
swimmers body in a more
efficient manner than
traditional material suits.[27] In
addition, the suits are custom
designed for the type
of strokethe swimmer will use as
well as being engineered
differently for women and for
men. These high-tech suits make
use of elastic compression
materials to limit muscle
oscillation and to compress the
swimmer's body, while in other
areas a more flexible fabric is
used to allow greater range of
motion.
Speedo LZR Racer - 2008
NASA computer image used in development
of the Speedo LZR Racer
•
•
Perhaps the company's most controversial
move came with 2008's unveiling of the
LZR (pronounced "lazer") Racer — a suit,
as Speedo's website boasts, "so fast, it was
banned from competition".[36] Indeed the
LZR Racer was banned by FINA in 2009,
but not until swimmers wearing this suit
had already broken at least 46 world
records.[37] The super smooth suit, which
was optimized with the help of NASA wind
tunnels, uses welded seams and multiple
woven fabrics to reduce drag by up to six
percent.[27] In addition, the LZR, like the
Fastskin, utilizes a core stabilizer, which
acts almost as a girdle, to reduce muscle
movement. This is designed to help the
swimmer maintain the proper angle in the
water for longer periods of
time.[27][37] Popular Science magazine
named this suit to their "100 Best of
What's New '08" list, calling it "The fastest
swimsuit in the world".[38]
FINA's ban on the LZR Racer and all "hitech" suits
BBC Technical textiles and Shark
skin swimsuit
• http://www.tes.co.uk/mypublicprofile.aspx?uc
=2186673
• http://www.tes.co.uk/mypublicprofile.aspx?uc
=2186673
Smart Textiles
Smart textiles can sense, react & adapt to the conditions around
them.
For example, they can react to:
• Hot or cold temperature
Uses
Novelty clothing
• Light
Protective clothing
• Pressure
Safety equipment
• Moisture
Medical textiles
• Time
Some smart materials meet a real need &
have been developed for specific functions.
Others are more of a novelty design feature.
Military uses
Anti-allergen products
Baby products
Pressure response Fabric
D3o is a new innovation
It is a soft malleable material most
of the time, but when it comes into
contact with force, it hardens on
impact
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
tKQxDoXqc_I
Memory Foam is temperature &
pressure sensitive foam that moulds
to the shape of the body & returns to
normal when pressure is removed.
Micro-encapsulation
Chemicals /
Fragrances are
captured in
microscopic
polymer bubbles
which are added
to natural or
microfibres.
When the fabric is
rubbed or comes into
contact with the skin, the
bubbles slowly burst to
release their content
Thermochromic Colour
Thermochromic textiles change
colour with heat. They are
engineered to change colour at a
particular temperature.
There are serious
medical uses as well as
novelty ones, e.g. liquid
crystal fabric strip
thermometers, & baby
sleep-suits to monitor
temperature.
Photo chromic dyes
Photo chromic dyes
react to UV light &
change colour. They
can be useful for
monitoring the amount
of time children spend
in the sun, to prevent
sun-burn.
Photo chromic dyes
What conditions will activate a smart fabric?
Light (UV exposure)
Photochromic paints and dyes change colour when
exposed to light. They are used for summer garments to
indicate the strength of UV rays – especially good for children’s
clothes.
Pigment changes in the sun and is
used for T shirt design
Phosphorescent Pigments
These dyes are used in glow-in-the dark
products.
Interactive or Electronic Textiles
An interactive fabric
incorporates
electronics that are
activated by a power
source. They are still
Smart fabrics, they just
require a power
source.
Interactive or Electronic Textiles
Examples of Interactive fabrics
1. The Life Shirt,
which monitors
blood pressure.
2. Garments with builtin mobile/mp3
technology.
3. Heated gloves.
4. Tracksuits which
can monitor
performance.
5. Products which emit
light and/or sounds.
Some more Electronic Fabrics
Graphic Equilizer T-shirt playing to Lady GaGa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGv6Bw34PtU
Electronic fashion on the catwalk – by Diana Eng
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkdJv5OCXio&feature=related
The climate dress
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVaUqSK3IQ
Wearable Tech/Smart clothing video from BBC i Player
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9699488.stm