Multifunctional Textiles Research Articles

Fluorine-free, superhydrophobic self-healing and UV-blocking cotton fabric for oil/water separation.

The discharge of oily wastewater not only pollutes waters but also deteriorates our living environment. Superhydrophobic cotton fabric is considered as an important remedy material for oily wastewater cleanup due to outstanding advantages including low cost, high porosity and switchable wettability. However, the existing superhydrophobic fabrics cannot exhibit durable superhydrophobicity during real-life applications due to poor interaction between the coatings and fabric substrates. To address this issue, one-step strategy is proposed to fabricate superhydrophobic cotton fabric by immersion in a octa-[2-(carboxyl methyl thio) ethyl]-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane/cerium dioxide/polydimethylsiloxane (POSS/CeO2/PDMS) coating. As expected, the finished cotton fabric exhibits robust superhydrophobic resistance to mechanical abrasion and chemical corrosions. Notably, the finished cotton fabric shows thermal self-healing superhydrophobicity even if undergone repetitive abrasion cycles and air plasma etching. It is proposed that the rising temperature accelerates the rotations of PDMS chains and the migrations of MAPOSS and CeO2, contributing superhydrophobic self-healing of the damaged cotton fabric. Meanwhile, the superhydrophobic fabric displays high oil/water separation efficiency even in strong acid and alkali environments. Additionally, the POSS/CeO2/PDMS coating improves mechanical, thermal and UV-blocking properties of the finished cotton fabric. This work will pave a way to exploitation and applications of novel multifunctional textiles.

Enhancing flame retardancy, antibacterial activity and UV resistance of polyamide 66 fabric by fully biobased intumescent flame-retardant nanocellulose coating.

Polyamide 66 (PA66) fabric, one of the most common textile materials, presents great fire hazards to human safety and property due to its intrinsic flammability. In this study, fully biobased intumescent flame-retardants (IFRs) composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), tannic acid (TA) and phytic acid (PA) were synthesized and coated onto the surface of the PA66 fabric for improving the flame retardancy, antibacterial and UV resistance. It is found that IFR coating effectively suppressed the droplet and smoke phenomenon of PA66 fabric, and the total smoke production (TSP) and smoke production rate (SPR) values of the fabric were significantly reduced by 71.0% and 36.7%, respectively. The synergistic effect of condensed phase and gas phase flame retardancy could be responsible for the remarkable improvement in the flame-retardant property of the treated PA66 fabric (PA66/IFR). Owing to the TA in the IFR coating, PA66/IFR3 fabric showed obvious antibacterial activity and UV resistance. Furthermore, the PA66/IFR3 fabric retained adequate mechanical properties and maintains satisfactory air permeability. This study provides a green and convenient solution for developing multifunctional PA66 fabrics to meet diversified demands.

Durable colorful superhydrophobic cotton fabric constructed from modified microcrystalline cellulose prepared by Schiff base reaction

Cotton fabric is widely used for its excellent wearability but often suffers from drawbacks such as poor stain resistance, susceptibility to corrosion, and low colorfastness. Here, we introduce a novel method to create colorful superhydrophobic cotton fabric using octadecylamine-modified dialdehyde cellulose (DAC/ODA) particles as building units, which are synthesized via a Schiff base reaction and subsequently dyed with active dyes. Leveraging the film-forming ability of ODA and the affinity between cellulose materials, DAC/ODA formed a robust coating on the cotton surface, with its microstructure precisely controlled through thermal induction. The resulting fabric (DAC/ODA/Cotton) exhibited exceptional superhydrophobicity, with a water contact angle of 155° and an osmotic pressure of 426.2 mm. The uniform coverage of DAC/ODA on cotton fibers also ensured high air permeability (33.1 mm/s). Additionally, DAC/ODA/Cotton demonstrated outstanding antifouling performance against various common liquids and water can easily remove dust from its surface. Importantly, the fabric maintains its superhydrophobicity under extreme conditions such as high temperature, UV radiation, and acid-base exposure. Even after 100 abrasion cycles, no significant changes in surface morphology and color on DAC/ODA/Cotton were observed. This fluorine-free, environmentally friendly approach offers significant potential for developing multifunctional textiles and coatings with broad applications while reducing environmental impact.

Solvent-free and Metal-free Fabrication of Multifunctional Cellulose-Based Fabrics for Wearable Energy Harvesting, Body Motion Detection, and Thermotherapy

Solvent-free and Metal-free Fabrication of Multifunctional Cellulose-Based Fabrics for Wearable Energy Harvesting, Body Motion Detection, and Thermotherapy

Green Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles, Statistical Process Optimization, Characterization, and Molecular Docking Analysis of Their Antimicrobial Activities onto Cotton Fabrics

Nanotechnological methods for creating multifunctional fabrics are attracting global interest. The incorporation of nanoparticles in the field of textiles enables the creation of multifunctional textiles exhibiting UV irradiation protection, antimicrobial properties, self-cleaning properties and photocatalytic. Nanomaterials-loaded textiles have many innovative applications in pharmaceuticals, sports, military the textile industry etc. This study details the biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the aqueous mycelial-free filtrate of Aspergillus flavus. The formation of AgNPs was indicated by a brown color in the extracellular filtrate and confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy with a peak at 426 nm. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) is used to optimize the physicochemical parameters affecting AgNPs biosynthesis. The desirability function was employed to theoretically predict the optimal conditions for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, which were subsequently experimentally validated. Through the desirability function, the optimal conditions for the maximum predicted value for the biosynthesized AgNPs (235.72 µg/mL) have been identified as follows: incubation time (58.12 h), initial pH (7.99), AgNO3 concentration (4.84 mM/mL), and temperature (34.84 °C). Under these conditions, the highest experimental value of AgNPs biosynthesis was 247.53 µg/mL. Model validation confirmed the great accuracy of the model predictions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed spherical AgNPs measuring 8.93–19.11 nm, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Zeta potential analysis indicated a positive surface charge (+1.69 mV), implying good stability. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the crystalline nature, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) verified elemental silver (49.61%). FTIR findings indicate the presence of phenols, proteins, alkanes, alkenes, aliphatic and aromatic amines, and alkyl groups which play significant roles in the reduction, capping, and stabilization of AgNPs. Cotton fabrics embedded with AgNPs biosynthesized using the aqueous mycelial-free filtrate of Aspergillus flavus showed strong antimicrobial activity. The disc diffusion method revealed inhibition zones of 15, 12, and 17 mm against E. coli (Gram-negative), S. aureus (Gram-positive), and C. albicans (yeast), respectively. These fabrics have potential applications in protective clothing, packaging, and medical care. In silico modeling suggested that the predicted compound derived from AgNPs on cotton fabric could inhibit Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and Lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase (L-14α-DM), with binding energies of −4.7 and −5.2 Kcal/mol, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis and sensitizer prediction indicated that this compound merits further investigation.

Superior EMI Shielding and Thermal Management of Flexible, Fire‐Resistant SiBCNZr Nanofiber Fabrics Enhanced by Defect Engineering and Graphitization

AbstractGiven the critical threats to aviation safety induced by electromagnetic interference (EMI), fire hazards, and icing, high‐performance multifunctional materials integrating mechanical flexibility, EMI shielding, fire resistance, and thermal management capabilities are highly desired yet challenging. Herein, a synergistic strategy is developed involving defect engineering and graphitization to enhance EMI shielding and thermal management properties of SiBCNZr nanofiber fabrics. Initially, the SiBCNZr nanofiber fabrics demonstrate excellent mechanical flexibility and intrinsic ceramic fire resistance. Furthermore, after annealing at 1400 °C, t‐ZrO2 nanograins with various types of defects are precipitated from the amorphous matrix, accompanied by the formation of turbostratic graphite C. The synergistic effects of defect engineering of t‐ZrO2 nanograins and graphitization of turbostratic C enhance conductivity and polarization loss, leading to a specific shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) of 2718 dB cm2 g−1. Additionally, the fabrics also demonstrate remarkable electrothermal conversion capability with a rapid electrothermal response. This work provides valuable insights into designing multifunctional EMI shielding ceramic nanofiber fabrics for aviation safety.

Multi-protection durable unidirectional water-transport fabric with personalized moisture and thermal management

Effective management of the microclimate interface of the human skin-fabric-external environment significantly contributes to enhancing the wearer’s comfort experience. In this paper, a fast sweat-absorbing anti-corrosion durable fabric was prepared based on fiber surface modification and textile structure design to improve the comfort and prolong the service life of fabrics. By the formation of self-assembled membranes (SAMS), silver-plated yarns with excellent oxidative resistance and hydrophobicity were obtained. A durable unidirectional water-transport fabric (DUWF) was received through a weft-double weave organization with hydrophobic silver-plated yarns as the inner weft and hydrophilic lyocell yarns as the outer weft. Spontaneous moisture conduction was achieved by the wettability gradient of two sets of weft threads and one set of warp threads in the thickness direction. DUWF had an electromagnetic shielding effect of over 65 dB, a unidirectional moisture transfer index of 863.33 %, an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 2000, a fast- cooling capacity of 3.3 °C, and good long-term stability and repeatability. The multifunctional smart fabrics proposed in this paper enhance the moisture and heat manageability of conventional garments and pave the way for further research on comfortable protective clothing.

Antimicrobial, anti-biofouling, antioxidant, and biocompatible fabrics with high durability via green growth of trimetallic nanoparticles

There is a high demand for green and sustainable multifunctional fabrics, which find application in a variety of real-life contexts. This study addresses the development of antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-biofouling and biocompatible fabrics through a one-step, versatile and cost-effective in-situ green growth strategy. Monometallic, bimetallic and trimetallic nanoparticles comprising silver (Ag), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were grown in-situ on fabric surfaces using Sideritis scardica extract. The average size of nanoparticles was 99 ± 25 nm, 131 ± 29 nm, 68 ± 18 nm for Ag, Cu and Zn. The metallic nanoparticles grown on the fabric surface imparted a range of colors to the fabrics, including yellow, brownish and greenish hues. Nanoparticle-decorated fabrics have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-biofouling, biocompatibility, and high durability properties. The decoration of fabrics with metallic nanoparticles mediated antimicrobial properties against bacteria (E. coli and S. aureus) and fungi (C. albicans), achieving a reduction of over 99.99 % (Logarithmic reduction>4). Bimetallic and trimetallic Ag and Cu nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antifungal activity in comparison to their monometallic counterparts. The cytotoxic effects of Cu were effectively eliminated through the fabrication of bimetallic nanostructures containing Zn. Notably, the biocompatibility of monometallic and bimetallic combinations involving Ag and Zn exceeded 95 %. The water contact angles of the decorated fabrics ranged from 145° to 153°. The superhydrophobic character of the fabrics prevented pathogen adhesion and inhibited biofilm formation. Moreover, all nanoparticle-decorated fabrics demonstrated antioxidant properties, with radical-scavenging activity ranging from 46 % to 91 %. The fabrics retained their antimicrobial properties against mechanical abrasion, heating and repeated cycles of washing and bending.

Scalable Production of Functional Fibers with Nanoscale Features for Smart Textiles.

Functional fibers, retaining nanoscale characteristics or nanomaterial properties, represent a significant advance in nanotechnology. Notably, the combination of scalable manufacturing with cutting-edge nanotechnology further expands their utility across numerous disciplines. Manufacturing kilometer-scale functional fibers with nanoscale properties are critical to the evolution of smart textiles, wearable electronics, and beyond. This review discusses their design principles, manufacturing technologies, and key advancements in the mass production of such fibers. In addition, it summarizes the current applications and state of progress in scalable fiber technologies and provides guidance for future advances in multifunctional smart textiles, by highlighting the upcoming impending demands for evolving nanotechnology. Challenges and directions requiring sustained effort are also discussed, including material selection, device design, large-scale manufacturing, and multifunctional integration. With advances in functional fibers and nanotechnology in large-scale production, wearable electronics, and smart textiles could potentially enhance human-machine interaction and healthcare applications.

Recycling primary batteries into advanced graphene flake-based multifunctional smart textiles for energy storage, strain sensing, electromagnetic interference shielding, antibacterial, and deicing applications

Batteries are extensively used owing to their pivotal role in energy storage. However, their adverse environmental impact remains a significant challenge. The prevailing technologies for treating and handling battery waste are remarkably complex and expensive, highlighting the urgent need to upcycle spent battery materials into valuable resources to mitigate their environmental footprint. To that end, this paper reports a scheme for recycling graphite rods and Zn from Zn–C batteries. In this approach, polymeric composites synthesized using graphene flakes extracted from the graphite rods of spent batteries are used to fabricate multifunctional cotton textiles, and the outer Zn case of the spent batteries is employed as a Zn anode in energy storage devices. The synthesized multifunctional fabric shows excellent energy storage performance, particularly in Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitors, achieving a specific capacitance of 140 F g−1 at a scan rate of 0.5 A g−1; an electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency of ∼48 dB; wearable sensing capabilities for human motion detection; and Joule heating behavior for deicing. Moreover, the fabric exhibits remarkable antibacterial efficiency, with an approximately 27-mm-wide inhibition zone against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The “waste-to-wonder” strategy presented herein holds promise for environmental protection and innovative multifunctional textile fabrication.

Synergetic construction of color and multifunction for sustainable lyocell fabric by Coptis chinensis and BTCA

In the context of escalating standards of living, the demand for healthy and multifunctional textiles is increasing. As a kind of cellulose macromolecular-based material, lyocell fiber has low carbon, is environmentally friendly, and demonstrates superb performance. The utilization of some Chinese herb dyes solves the pollution problem in the color and functionality construction of lyocell fabric by synthetic dyes and finishing agents. However, problems such as low dye utilization rate, light apparent color, and weak functionality of dyed fabrics remain, thus limiting the further application of the powerful combination of lyocell fabric and Chinese herb dyes. Here, a color and multifunction construction method of lyocell fabric with Coptis chinensis and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid was proposed. Under the optimal color construction condition, the color depth increased remarkably, and the dye exhaustion rate of the modified fabric enhanced by 332.3 % compared with the unmodified one. The multifunction construction imparted outstanding fuzz and pilling inhibition, fibrillation resistance, and antiwrinkle performance for lyocell fabrics. Moreover, the dyed lyocell fabric exhibited considerable UV protective activity and antibacterial property against Staphylococcus aureus. This work provided an efficient color and multifunction construction technology for lyocell fabric with high value added.

Yarn-Based Degradable Janus PPDO Fabric for Multifunctional Applications.

The growing high standard of people's wear has put forward requirements for fabrics, and multifunctional fabrics have been developed precisely in response to the requirements of the times. However, the incineration of waste fabrics produces a large amount of pollutants, resulting in a massive waste of resources and environmental pollution. Herein, the degradable nanofiber yarns (NYs) with self-cleaning properties were fabricated by in situ growth of SiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of the electrospun poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO) NYs using the Stöber method. Then, the PPDO NYs were blended with carbon fibers and the PPDO/SiO2 NYs with themselves to form the Janus PPDO fabrics, respectively. The Janus PPDO fabric offered asymmetric wettability and dual personal thermal management properties. The PPDO/C side of the Janus PPDO fabric provided 65.8 °C at 1.5 V or 58.5 °C under one sunlight intensity for radiative heating. The PPDO/SiO2 side exhibited high solar reflectivity (81.8%) and mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity (99.1%), which reduced the skin temperature by 4.6 °C, resulting in radiative cooling. Moreover, the Janus PPDO fabrics display an excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance (53.3 dB). Therefore, yarn-based degradable Janus fabric has a promising future in multifunctional wearable products.

Robust, intelligent photochromic cotton fabrics with superamphiphobicity and expedient UV detection ability

Multifunctional photochromic cotton fabrics have enormous application potential in our daily lives, but still suffer from poor durability, slow coloration, tedious fabrication process, and short service life. The hydrophilic and polysaccharide characteristics of cotton fabrics make them vulnerable to bacteria adhesion and proliferation. Herein, intelligent photochromic cotton fabrics featured with durable superamphiphobicity are fabricated by in situ growth of ZIF-8 nanoparticles encapsulating spirooxazine (SP) photochromic dyes on the fabric surface, followed by low surface energy treatment using a fluorocarbon resin (FR) via a dip-coating method. The resultant SP@ZIF-8/FR cotton fabrics exhibit superamphiphobicity with contact angles of over 150° to both water and oils (surface tension ≥30 mN/m). When exposed to UV light, the fabric rapidly changes its color from white to blue within 10 s and fades in 2 min under visible room light. The developed SP@ZIF-8/FR coating is durable against numerous damages in daily usage, such as machine laundry, abrasion and UV irradiation, without losing photochromic and superamphiphobic properties. The high durability and excellent reversible color response allow the coated fabric to intuitively and quantitatively monitor outdoor UV intensity. Owing to the presence of ZIF-8, the treated fabrics also show excellent antibacterial property with antibacterial rates of over 99 % against both E. coli and S. aureus. The developed fabric coating can be engineered to visually assess the UV intensity in the outdoor environment.

Robust multifunctional superhydrophobic and photocatalytic composites with all-weather self-healing ability

Superhydrophobic surfaces with rapid self-healing ability are ideal for long-life superhydrophobic materials. The micro-nano rough structure has great influence on the superhydrophobicity, and the micro-dissolution cotton fabric can realize the stable load of nanoparticles. In this regard, we prepared multifunctional fabrics with an all-weather self-healing superhydrophobic layer and photocatalytic self-cleaning properties by spraying TiN and TiO2 on micro-dissolution-treated polypyrrole/cotton fabrics. The results show that the modified fabrics maintain superhydrophobicity even in harsh environments (water contact angle (WCA) up to 160.0°, water sliding angle (WSA) as low as 3.9°), with excellent abrasion resistance and stability. Even after the fabric loses superhydrophobicity due to ion etching, the superhydrophobicity can be quickly restored by photothermal or electrothermal treatment in 13 min. At the same time, the prepared multifunctional fabrics have hydrophobic and oleophilic properties, and possess good oil-water separation efficiency (98.8 %). After being contaminated by oil, the WCA recovers from 135.0° to 160.0° via the photocatalytic property of the fabric. In addition, the fabrics exhibit excellent de-icing effects. This research provides new opportunities to extend the life of superhydrophobic textiles with all-weather self-healing properties.

Improvement of fire safety for viscose fabrics based on phytic acid modified tea polyphenols complexed iron ions

In this work, a multifunctional finishing agent named as PATFe was prepared from phytic acid (PA), tea polyphenols (TP), and Fe3+. The optimum weight ratio of PA to TP was determined by exploring the effect on flame retardant and tensile properties of viscose fabrics. Then, the effects of different concentrations of iron ions on the flame retardant and tensile properties of viscose fabrics were further investigated, and finally, multifunctional viscose fabrics, PATFe-9, were prepared. The system was investigated to confer the multifunctional effects on the flame retardant, bacteriostatic, and UV-resistant properties of viscose fabrics under the condition of lower weight gains (about 6.0 wt%). The limiting oxygen index of PATFe-9 reached 33.7 % with a weight gain of 6.1 wt%, and PATFe-9 had an inhibition effect against Staphylococcus aureus, and the ultraviolet protection factor value reached 67. It is worth noting that the breaking force retention rate of this system reached 100 %, which greatly improves the scope of use and added value of viscose fabrics.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL MODIFICATION OF COTTON FABRIC FOR ANTIMICROBIAL, FLAME-RETARDANT AND OLEOPHOBIC PROPERTIES

In recent times, the investigation and development of multifunctional textiles have become a necessity for the textile and apparel industries. Therefore, this paper explores an innovative approach to enhancing the functional properties of cotton (cellulosic) fabric by integrating advanced technologies to impart oleophobic/hydrophobic, flame-retardant, and antibacterial characteristics. The methodology involves systematically applying chemical treatments utilizing a layer-by-layer finishing technique to achieve the desired multifunctionality in cotton fabric. Silver nanoparticles and a phosphorus-nitrogen-based synergistic flame-retarding agent were employed to finish the fabric. Performance testing encompasses evaluating bacterial reduction, contact angle measurements, water absorption properties, flame-retardant capabilities, and Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI). Characterization techniques such as FTIR, SEM, and EDX analysis, were carried out to assess structural and chemical modifications of the material. The results illustrate a notable transformation of the cellulosic fabric, showcasing enhanced resistance to bacterial attack, improved stain resistance, and heightened flame-retardant performance, without compromising its color indices and air permeability. The fabric retains these multifunctional attributes even after 20 cycles of laundering, which confers durability. The implications of this research extend the application of conventional cotton fabric in diverse sectors, including apparel, home furnishings, and industrial textiles.

A Highly Robust, Multifunctional, and Breathable Bicomponent Fibers Thermoelectric Fabric for Dual-Mode Sensing.

Wearable thermoelectric (TE) materials are seen as excellent candidates for flexible electronics because of their unique self-powered properties, multistimulus sensing and human waste heat conversion. However, currently reported flexible TE materials still face challenges such as poor durability, uncomfortable wearing and sensing signals crosstalking each other. Herein, this study describes a hot-air cross-linking method for the preparation of multifunctional TE fabrics with enhanced durability. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers with core and sheath structures having different melting points were selected as flexible substrates. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were embedded stably on the surface of the sheath layer in the presence of heat treatment. The fiber-welded structure created by thermal cross-linking improves the durability of TE fabrics, including consistent mechanical and electrical properties after a 6 h wash test and 6000 compression cycles. The unique fiber structure of TE fabrics ensures excellent breathability (313.7 mm s-1 at 200 Pa), which meets the breathability requirements for human wear. In addition, the fiber-prepared sensors have excellent compressive strain response (20 ms response time and 30 ms recovery time) and precise temperature discrimination (0.17 K minimum discrimination temperature) for accurate real-time monitoring of the sensed signals. Thus, the TE fabrics can be used for human motion recognition, including pulse monitoring, sign language expression, and motions in joint areas. Moreover, the fabricated wearable TE device is connected to a Bluetooth module for wireless transmission, which can be used for mechanical and temperature sensing of the robot arm without signals crosstalking. This new durable TE fabric paves the way for the next generation of smart wearable technology.

Protein-tannin interactions towards fabricating flame-retardant, UV-resistance, antibacterial and mechanical-reinforced PA66 fabric

The “Protein-polyphenol interactions” is a hot research topic in the field of interaction between biological macromolecules. Strong interactions between biomass polyphenolic tannins and proteins can be generated through covalent and non-covalent bonds. Inspired by this, keratin (Ker) and oxidized tannin (TA) was co-deposited on polyamide 66 (PA66) fabric to fabricate OTA/Ker coated PA66 fabric (PA66@OTA/Ker), which was then chelated with Fe3+ to prepare fire resistance and anti-dripping PA66 fabric (PA66@OTA/Ker@Fe). The results showed that the total heat release rate (THR), peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total smoke production (TSP) of PA66@OTA/Ker@Fe were reduced by 51 %, 57 % and 52 %, respectively. PA66@OTA/Ker@Fe had a residue char of 21.6 % at 800 °C under N2 atmosphere. In addition, the LOI of PA66@OTA/Ker@Fe increased from 20.5 % of the control sample to 28.5 % and reached a UL-94 V-0 rating. Besides, PA66@OTA/Ker@Fe exhibited excellent UV resistance, good mechanical and anti-bacterial properties. This work provides an eco-friendly strategy for developing multifunctional PA66 fabrics.

Moisture-wicking Janus-structure electronic knitted fabric for multimodal wearable mechanical sensing

Multimodal mechanical sensors that can recognize bending direction and exhibit excellent wearable performance are crucial for the fields of physical exercise and healthcare. This study fabricated a knitted multimodal sensor with porous and wetting gradients using hydrophobic core-spun yarns and hydrophilic CNT/WPU conductive yarns in plain stitch and partial tuck stitch. The electronic fabric demonstrated reliable strain sensing unaffected by compression disturbances and displayed a selective response to directional bending. The sensor exhibits a 50% sensing range with a GFmax of −4.41 during strain deformation detection. In terms of bending detection, one side achieves a 10% sensing range (−51.68°) with a GFmax of −6.89, while the other side achieves a 20% sensing range (73.72°) with a GFmax of 8.64. Encouragingly, deep learning incorporated with the sensor achieves an impressive recognition rate of 98.16% for mixed signals with different force levels. Furthermore, it possesses excellent wearable properties such as breathability, moisture permeability, perspiration remove, quick-drying and washability, suitable for applications like activity monitoring, medical rehabilitation evaluation, and gesture recognition. This work presents a promising pathway for the advancement of next-generation multifunctional electronic textiles.

Development of bio-active cotton fabric coated with betalain extract as encapsulating agent for active packaging textiles

The development of bio-active cotton fabric based on natural polymers and pigments has been a significant material for biodegradable textile packaging in recent years. Betalain extracted (BE) from Red beet root (RBR) is a rich source of natural pigments and has potential health benefits as an antioxidant and in biological activities which used as food, beverage, and drug colorant. However, BE pigments are photochromically unstable and have interest applications, thereby motivating the use of microencapsulation technology to maintain their stability and increase their shelf lifetime. Thus, in the present work Incorporating BE into gelatinized corn starch (GS) and Arabic gum (AG) for manufacturing stabilized BE microcapsules with tunable antioxidant and biological properties by freeze-drying method. The produced encapsulating agent (EA) powders were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) for particle morphology and FTIR of selected EA was carried out. Monitoring of coloring strength values (K/S) and Color parameters before and after storage as well as storage stability of these microcapsules at different pH’s was also studied. The current study was performed to design multifunctional cotton fabric, for this purpose the cotton fabric was treated with keratin to improve its affinity toward 100 % BE, with and without (BE) EA were determined using a pad dry process. The chemical properties, physical properties, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and functional properties of the coated fabrics with and without (BE) as well as color parameters were determined. The results showed that the fabric coated with 100 % BE and 30 % BE incorporating or encapsulating with 60 % GS and 10 % AG exhibited good mechanical properties, excellent thermal stability, and significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activity compared to the uncoated fabric. The antioxidant release of BTE from the fabric coated with 60/10/30 EA was controlled by diffusion. According to the results, the developed multifunctional coated fabrics with BE encapsulating agent can be considered as a good potential material for active packaging textiles for various applications.