**3.3 Phase-changing textiles**

Phase change materials, with a textile substrate, are basicly thermo regulating materials. When the melting temperature of the material is reached during the heating process, the transition from solid state to liquid, that is, a phase change occurs, during which the phase change material absorbs and stores a large amount of heat. The temperature of the phase-changing material remains virtually constant during the entire phase change. During cooling of the same material, the stored heat is transferred to the medium and the transition from liquid to solid state takes place. Again, the temperature of the material remains constant throughout the phase change process. If the temperature change continues except for phase change, the temperature of the material also changes.

#### *Advanced Functional Materials*

By using two or more phase-changing materials together, the temperature range at which the phase change occurs can be adjusted so that it can be used in specific applications. Textile materials in which the phase-changing materials are applied have a cooling effect, heating effect, or thermoregulation effect caused by the absorption or dissipation of heat depending on the ambient temperature conditions. The degree of all effects depends on the type of material used, its thermal capacity, and the amount of application. Of course, in order to obtain the desired effect efficiently, the temperature values in which the material changes phase must match the temperature values to be encountered during use.

The application of phase-changing materials to textile materials can be done in different ways. Microencapsulated phase-changing materials can be added to the structure of synthetic fibers during fiber drawing, can be added to the nonwoven structure, or can be coated on textile surfaces. Product design is also very important in all these applications. For example, when changing from a warm indoor environment to a cold outdoor environment, it was seen that the garment containing the phase-changing material showed heating effect on average 12–15 min depending on the phase-changing material content and outdoor conditions.

If the structure of the garment is not designed well, it is also possible to dissipate heat from the phase-changing material. When we look at their usage, they have commercialized usage in hospital beds and pillows. With the effects of thermoregulation, they keep the temperature at levels that do not disturb the patient and ensure that the patient does not sweat and thus contribute to the healing process of the patient. There are also studies on heating or cooling plasters and heating blankets for use in the medical field. In long-term operations, it is possible to provide thermal comfort by preventing surgeons' sweats by providing a coating on the inside of their garments with a phase-changing material. There are commercialized everyday garments, underwear, shoes, and sportswear where phase-changing materials are applied [2, 10–12].

#### **3.4 Wearable smart electronic textiles**

Wearable smart electronic textiles make lifes more reliable, healthy and comfortable in many areas. Wearable smart electronic textiles; temperature change, light, moisture, such as environmental stimuli can detect, react to these stimuli, can change itself according to external conditions, store data, these data are used to produce information and communication purposes. In this sense, they are perceived as intelligent technologies that will have the qualities to support the vital activities of human beings such as sensation, movement, communication, taking action, and adapting to environmental conditions.

The four basic elements of wearable smart electronic textiles are conductivity, sensors, wireless communication module, and power supply. Depending on the nature of these components, the degree to which they can be integrated into the textile material varies. As a first method, existing electronic devices can be integrated into the textile material. An example of a life belt to which the existing sensors are attached is an example. The biggest advantage is that the process is very easy. However, the disadvantages of the large, inflexible electronic components used are disturbing the user and washing problems. The second method is the production of electronic components using textile materials and textile manufacturing techniques (textronics) and their use as part of the garment. The disadvantage of this method is that integration processes can be carried out easily, but that a limited number of electronic components can be produced by textile materials and methods. The third method is to produce and use fibers to provide some electronic functions (fibertronics).

**251**

*Smart E-Textile Materials*

time, and calories.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92439*

**4. Innovations in smart textiles**

directly onto textiles (**Figure 2**).

**4.2 Conductive textiles**

textile segment [14].

Clothing equipped with sensors that monitor vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and body temperature increases the mobility of the patients while providing the confidence of being constantly monitored and increasing the standard of living for chronic patients and the disabled. High-performance active sportswear provides a performance increase by following the athletes' body functions such as pulse, breath, body temperature, and activity-related values such as speed, distance,

Various applications are available in the field of medicine, sportswear, and protective clothing. Lifeshirt is an example of the protective use of intelligent electronic garments designed for pioneers, hazardous workers, firefighters, and industrial cleaning workers. Lifeshirt is a belt that contains sensors that detect indicators related to vital activities such as respiratory rate, heart rate, and body temperature and can transmit this information to a remote monitor via a modem. Through this belts, the health status of the wearer can be monitored continuously, and strategic

The Cyberia Smart Coverall with wearable technology is designed to be worn

The next generation of waterproof smart fabrics will be laser printed and made in minutes. That is the future imagined by the researchers behind new e-textile technology. Scientists from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, have developed a cost-efficient and scalable method for rapidly fabricating textiles that are embedded with energy storage devices. In just 3 min, the method can produce a 10 × 10 cm smart textile patch that is waterproof, stretchable, and readily integrated with energy harvesting technologies. The technology enables graphene supercapacitors—powerful and long-lasting energy storage devices that are easily combined with solar or other sources of power—to be laser printed

A conductive textile can be defined as a fabric which is made from the strands of a metal that are woven, blended, or coated during the creation of the textile. Conductive metals such as silver, titanium, gold, nickel, and carbon are utilized by the textile. Conductive textiles inhabit the property that it can conduct electricity and thus is used in several applications by different end-use industries. The primary function of the conductive textile is controlling the static electricity and protecting from the electromagnetic interference. Based on type, the woven textile segment has significant growth during the forecast period. Woven textiles are widely utilized by various end-use industries such as military and defense, healthcare, and sports and fitness. As these textiles offer high standard performance in shielding and conductivity, they are considered to be the preferred type of conductive textiles utilized across the globe, thereby boosting the growth of the woven

decisions can be made by evaluating the general situation of the team.

predetermined number in the event of an abnormal condition [2, 5, 13].

**4.1 Laser-printed waterproof and stretchable e-textiles**

in polar areas. The project was started with the aim of developing a garment displaying the health data of the wearer. The garment displaying health data also includes a global positioning system (GPS) for use in the event of a loss and a GSM module that can automatically send the coordinates and health information to a

#### *Smart E-Textile Materials DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92439*

*Advanced Functional Materials*

applied [2, 10–12].

**3.4 Wearable smart electronic textiles**

adapting to environmental conditions.

some electronic functions (fibertronics).

the temperature values to be encountered during use.

the phase-changing material content and outdoor conditions.

By using two or more phase-changing materials together, the temperature range at which the phase change occurs can be adjusted so that it can be used in specific applications. Textile materials in which the phase-changing materials are applied have a cooling effect, heating effect, or thermoregulation effect caused by the absorption or dissipation of heat depending on the ambient temperature conditions. The degree of all effects depends on the type of material used, its thermal capacity, and the amount of application. Of course, in order to obtain the desired effect efficiently, the temperature values in which the material changes phase must match

The application of phase-changing materials to textile materials can be done in different ways. Microencapsulated phase-changing materials can be added to the structure of synthetic fibers during fiber drawing, can be added to the nonwoven structure, or can be coated on textile surfaces. Product design is also very important in all these applications. For example, when changing from a warm indoor environment to a cold outdoor environment, it was seen that the garment containing the phase-changing material showed heating effect on average 12–15 min depending on

If the structure of the garment is not designed well, it is also possible to dissipate

heat from the phase-changing material. When we look at their usage, they have commercialized usage in hospital beds and pillows. With the effects of thermoregulation, they keep the temperature at levels that do not disturb the patient and ensure that the patient does not sweat and thus contribute to the healing process of the patient. There are also studies on heating or cooling plasters and heating blankets for use in the medical field. In long-term operations, it is possible to provide thermal comfort by preventing surgeons' sweats by providing a coating on the inside of their garments with a phase-changing material. There are commercialized everyday garments, underwear, shoes, and sportswear where phase-changing materials are

Wearable smart electronic textiles make lifes more reliable, healthy and comfortable in many areas. Wearable smart electronic textiles; temperature change, light, moisture, such as environmental stimuli can detect, react to these stimuli, can change itself according to external conditions, store data, these data are used to produce information and communication purposes. In this sense, they are perceived as intelligent technologies that will have the qualities to support the vital activities of human beings such as sensation, movement, communication, taking action, and

The four basic elements of wearable smart electronic textiles are conductivity, sensors, wireless communication module, and power supply. Depending on the nature of these components, the degree to which they can be integrated into the textile material varies. As a first method, existing electronic devices can be integrated into the textile material. An example of a life belt to which the existing sensors are attached is an example. The biggest advantage is that the process is very easy. However, the disadvantages of the large, inflexible electronic components used are disturbing the user and washing problems. The second method is the production of electronic components using textile materials and textile manufacturing techniques (textronics) and their use as part of the garment. The disadvantage of this method is that integration processes can be carried out easily, but that a limited number of electronic components can be produced by textile materials and methods. The third method is to produce and use fibers to provide

**250**

Clothing equipped with sensors that monitor vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and body temperature increases the mobility of the patients while providing the confidence of being constantly monitored and increasing the standard of living for chronic patients and the disabled. High-performance active sportswear provides a performance increase by following the athletes' body functions such as pulse, breath, body temperature, and activity-related values such as speed, distance, time, and calories.

Various applications are available in the field of medicine, sportswear, and protective clothing. Lifeshirt is an example of the protective use of intelligent electronic garments designed for pioneers, hazardous workers, firefighters, and industrial cleaning workers. Lifeshirt is a belt that contains sensors that detect indicators related to vital activities such as respiratory rate, heart rate, and body temperature and can transmit this information to a remote monitor via a modem. Through this belts, the health status of the wearer can be monitored continuously, and strategic decisions can be made by evaluating the general situation of the team.

The Cyberia Smart Coverall with wearable technology is designed to be worn in polar areas. The project was started with the aim of developing a garment displaying the health data of the wearer. The garment displaying health data also includes a global positioning system (GPS) for use in the event of a loss and a GSM module that can automatically send the coordinates and health information to a predetermined number in the event of an abnormal condition [2, 5, 13].
