A comprehensive thermal-manage methodology for wearable textile technologies and its applications

Abstract

Clothing is one of the basic biological and physiological needs. In fact, clothing is one of the first wearable and extensively developed commodity that has been used by humans. It is the primary method for managing thermal body comfort, which is also a basic human need. Clothing has evolved over thousands of years and encompasses fashion, protective, and functional needs thus forming a natural extension of our bodies, which has reached a functional apex with specialized work clothing designed for safety and protection. In the 21st century, which is a digital world, the next step is then to enhance clothing by adding smart functionality and intelligence to include digital aspects for its wearers. Smart fabrics and clothing have a high potential to extend human physical, social, and cognitive abilities, keep us connected with the world, and adapt the clothing's functions with respect to situational awareness. The marriage of smart technology with fashion allows smart clothes to be objects of desire while concurrently delivering function. It is a powerful combination. In certain work areas, special clothing for protection and support are necessary generally accepted. Specific materials are used to combine wearability and different functions ranging from increased sturdiness to the well-known equipment for both police and firemen. It is no surprise that with the growing use of digital services and devices and the advances in material science, the fabric itself has become a part of these eco-systems that have evolved into smart fabrics. However, these clothing types still resemble equipment because they are rigid, cold, and lackluster. End users have been reluctant to accept this newly developing technology because their appearances are usually unattractive, which has been one of the main factors limiting its widespread use over the last several decades. Thus, in this study, an innovative kind of conductive smart textile was thoroughly investigated and utilized in order to develop a type of electrical thermal textile and clothing, which is concurrently flexible, light, thin, stretchable, and comfortable. Actually, the formation of this smart textile technology is in fact a result of a multi-disciplinary approach in various fields: (1) textile chemistry; (2) fiber technology; (3) cloth manufacturing technology; (4) material science; (5) electronics and instrumentation; (6) communication (including mobile technologies that will act as gateway for sending information); (7) artificial intelligence; (8) molecular biology and organic chemistry; (9) molecular engineering and nanotechnology; and (10) biotechnology and information technology. Meanwhile, considering the value of the significant practical application of this textile technology and the urgent need to transfer it from the lab to the market shelves, this study undertook a practice-led design research method in order to lead the study through the whole industrial pipeline, starting from the raw conductive textile material analysis to the final prototype design and development. Thus, multiple flexible thermal textile products have been developed in different fields that cast a light on future various application possibilities. Clothing is a part of the basic biological and physiological needs. In fact, clothing was one of the first wearable extensible used and developed by human kind and it is a primary method to manage body thermal comfort, one of basic needs as well.