Yarn to Fabric

This chapter explains what intelligent textiles are and what applications have been developed using them. Consisting of a sensor, processor and actuator, an intelligent textile structure sends stimulus data to a processor, which then sends a command to an actuator to perform a preprogrammed action – intelligent textiles are interactive. Phase change materials, shape memory textiles, chromic materials, conductive textiles, stress-responsive materials, photonics and biomimetics are discussed in this chapter. Textile Intelligence (2008) estimated that the total market for intelligent textiles was around US$ 1.1 billion in 2010. But only 23% of sales consist of finished consumer products, while 77% are input and intermediate components such as sensors, actuators, materials and other devices. The market is growing fast, however, with recent sales growth exceeding a compound annual rate of 20%.