Focused Session A-11
Smart Textiles
From micro/nano-engineered textile fibres to integrated wearable systems

The present development of textile market is set to continue to grow as the consumer demand provides a greater incentive to the textile industry for innovation. Research for highly specific applications is active both in exploring the opportunities offered by manipulating textile materials down to the nanoscale at the purpose of creating improved or new “smart” adaptive/active functions, and in the development of the so-called "E- textile” where the incorporation of (micro) electronic components such as processors, sensors, etc. into smart fabrics results in an intelligent integrated system which provides a flexible sensing, actuation and wireless communication platform enabling a new dimension of intelligent high-tech fabrics and wearable garments. This session aims at exploring the new opportunities offered by research to drive key technology developments in this area.
A joint session will be planned with Symposium D “Biomedical Applications of Smart Materials, Nanotechnology and Micro/Nano-Engineering” accounting for the relevant opportunities offered by E-textiles for quality health care in modern society by providing multifunctional wearable interfaces between devices and patients that allow a personalised approach to prevention, diagnosis, therapy and even rehabilitation.

Specific topics of interest include but are not limited to:

Sub-Sessions:

A-11.1 Adaptive/Active Textiles

Materials: Polymers, metals, ceramics; nanoparticles and nanotubes; conductive, phase change, shape memory, photochromic, thermochromic, electrochromic, piezoelectric, etc.
Functionalisation of fibres, yarns and fabrics by: i) nanoscale modification of intrinsic properties of fibres, e.g. by making them sensitive to motion, humidity, light, temperature, and chemical and physiological environment; ii) integrating/dispersing/coating textiles with stimuli-responsive smart materials for new or improved functionality
Synthesis, processing, fabrication, characterisation, properties
Modelling and simulation

A-11.2 E-Textiles

Integration technologies to embody sensing/actuation/communication capability into functional fabrics and wearable wireless platforms: processors, sensors, interconnects, antennas.
Packaging issues, power management, distributed sensors architecture, signal processing, etc.

A-11.3 Functionality and Applications

Functionality: Sensing and actuating, communication and information, energy harvesting and storage, antibacterial, environmental protection, thermal regulation, colour modification, self-cleaning, water and stain repellence, water harvesting from air, self-shaping, self-repair, etc.
Applications: Military and security, health care*, mobile health monitoring, medical, rehabilitation, ergonomics, sport and wellness, emergency disaster wear, work wear, fashion, etc.

* Joint Session with Session D-7 of Symposium D “Biomedical Applications of Smart Materials, Nanotechnology and Micro/Nano Engineering”