Advances in solid-state fiber batteries for wearable bioelectronics

Powering wearable bioelectronics with decent skin conformability and wearing comfort is highly desired. Fiber batteries could provide an attractive alternative to traditional rigid ones and present a compelling solution to this problem. In this review, we will discuss the various classes of fiber batteries, including lithium batteries, zinc batteries, and other types of fiber batteries. We will then report the latest research progress on each battery category through its working mechanism, materials usage, structure design, and wearable applications. Finally, we provide insights into current challenges and future applications of fiber batteries, aiming to promote the development of low-cost and high-performance fiber battery technologies for wearable bioelectronics.     

4D Printing of Shape Memory Materials for Textiles: Mechanism,Mathematical Modeling,and Challenges

Shape memory materials (SMMs) in 3D printing (3DP) technology garnered much attention due to their ability to respond to external stimuli, which direct this technology toward an emerging area of research, “4D printing (4DP) technology.” In contrast to classical 3D printed objects, the fourth dimension, time, allows printed objects to undergo significant changes in shape, size, or color when subjected to external stimuli. Highly precise and calibrated 4D materials, which can perform together to achieve robust 4D objects, are in great demand in various fields such as military applications, space suits, robotic systems, apparel, healthcare, sports, etc. This review, for the first time, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, focuses on recent advances in SMMs (e.g., polymers, metals, etc.) based wearable smart textiles and fashion goods. This review integrates the basic overview of 3DP technology, fabrication methods, the transition of 3DP to 4DP, the chemistry behind the fundamental working principles of 4D printed objects, materials selection for smart textiles and fashion goods. The central part summarizes the effect of major external stimuli on 4D textile materials followed by the major applications. Lastly, prospects and challenges are discussed, so that future researchers can continue the progress of this technology.     

Evaluation of the electrical integrity of E-textiles subjected to environmental conditions

E-textiles contain electrically conductive elements and electronic devices that are integrated in textile substrate. Wearable e-textiles are expected to perform like textiles in terms of breathability, conformability, and comfort despite the presence of the electrically conductive elements and electronics. E-textiles are also expected to provide reliable data and signal processing like electronic devices while they are subjected to normal wear and tear under different environmental conditions. The goal of this research was to investigate the electrical integrity of e-textiles while they are subjected to environmental conditions. Different woven samples of electronic-improved outer tactical vest with two narrow conductive traces woven in the warp direction were subjected to range of temperatures and humidity, including extreme conditions. The effects of formation parameters (e-yarn type, number of e-yarns/trace, and weldability), temperature, and humidity on the integrity of the e-textiles were studied. It was found that resistance of networks was affected by changes in air temperature and humidity and the quality of the weld had the greatest impact on electrical integrity of the conductive network. This impact was pronounced in more extreme environmental conditions, which revealed that there was a strong interaction between the weldability, temperature, and humidity.     

Partitioning of PCBs from air to clothing materials in a Danish apartment

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination of buildings continues to pose an exposure threat, even decades after their application in the form of calks and other building materials. In this research, we investigate the ability of clothing to sorb PCBs from contaminated air and thereby influence exposure. The equilibrium concentration of PCB‐28 and PCB‐52 was quantified for nine used clothing fabrics exposed for 56 days to air in a Danish apartment contaminated with PCBs. Fabric materials included pure materials such as cotton and polyester, or blends of polyester, cotton, viscose/rayon, and/or elastane. Air concentrations were fairly stable over the experimental period, with PCB‐28 ranging from 350 to 430 ng/m³ and PCB‐52 ranging from 460 to 550 ng/m³. Mass accumulated in fabric ranged from below detection limits to 4.5 mg/g of fabric. Cotton or materials containing elastane sorbed more than polyester materials on a mass basis. Mass‐normalized partition coefficients above detection limits ranged from 10^5.7 to 10^7.0 L/kg. Clothing acts as a reservoir for PCBs that extends dermal exposure, even when outside or in uncontaminated buildings.     

Genipin-crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol hollow braids degradable tissue engineering scaffolds: Manufacturing techniques and property evaluations

Tissue engineering has been developed with the aim of improving the regeneration and recovery of impaired tissues and organs. Biodegraded scaffolds serve the aforementioned functions and can also be decomposed by means of metabolism. They have no biological toxicity and save patients from injuries by the second surgery, which makes biodegradable scaffolds a new development trend in the tissue engineering. In this study, the textile engineering and chemical crosslinking techniques are employed to produce biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hollow braids, serving as the tissue engineering scaffolds. The process involves two types of products, including the twisted yarns and hollow braids. The twist number of PVA twisted yarns is changed to form different PVA twisted yarns, which are then used to braided into hollow braids via the braiding technology. Therefore, the hollow braids are basically composed three types of PVA twisted yarns. Next, the surface observation, mechanical properties, and degradation of the products are then evaluated. The test results indicate that PVA twisted yarns exhibit the optimal mechanical properties when being twisted with 3 turns/inch. Any higher twist counts result in over twist in the twisted yarns. The optimal hollow braids are composed of PVA twisted yarns with a twist counts being 3 turns/inch. Afterwards, hollow braids are crosslinking with genipin, thereby obtaining greater mechanical strength of 23.6 N and higher decomposition rate of 0.8. The specified hollow braids are suitable for the use as tissue engineering scaffolds.     

Graphene nanoplatelets composite membranes for thermal comfort enhancement in performance textiles

The advent of 2D nanostructured materials as advanced fillers for polymer matrix composites has opened the doors to a plethora of new industrial applications requiring both electric and thermal management. Unique properties, in fact, can arise from accurate selection and processing of 2D fillers and their matrix. Here, we report an innovative family of nanocomposite membranes based on polyurethane (PU) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), designed to improve thermal comfort in functional textiles. GNP particles were thoroughly characterized (through Raman, atomic force microscopy, high-resolution TEM, scanning electron microscope), and showed high crystallinity (I_D/I_G = 0.127), low thickness (D50 < 6–8 layers), and high lateral dimensions (D50 ≈ 3 μm). When GNPs were loaded (up to 10% wt/wt) into the PU matrix, their homogeneous dispersion resulted in an increase of the in-plane thermal conductivity of composite membranes up to 471%. The thermal dissipation of membranes, alone or coupled with cotton fabric, was further evaluated by means of an ad hoc system designed to simulate a human forearm. The results obtained provide a new strategy for the preparation of membranes suitable for technical textiles, with improved thermal comfort.     

Voids and their effect on the strain rate dependent material properties and fatigue behaviour of non-crimp fabric composites materials

The manufacture of composite structures is inevitably linked to the formation of voids. Several non-destructive techniques are potentially able of detecting defects, but just the exact knowledge of the effects of defects on the mechanical properties allows the definition of thresholds for the purpose of quality management. In this paper an experimental program for characterizing the effect of voids on the composite materials behaviour is presented. Therefore glass fibre non-crimp fabric reinforced epoxy composites were produced using vacuum assistant resin transfer moulding. For obtaining various void contents specially modified process parameters were used. Nominally defect free specimens are compared with flawed specimens. Tensile testing at different loading speeds and fatigue tests in tension-compression loading are performed.     

Effect of inter-ply sliding on the quality of multilayer interlock dry fabric preforms

Forming thick, complex shapes with several layers is needed in high technology fields. During forming, defects can occur and have to be taken into account because they can significantly affect the mechanical performance of the part. This experimental study shows that, when working with dry fabric forming, the type and number of defects is a function of the punch geometry, the process parameters, the orientation of the fabric with respect to the punch and the inter-ply friction. Inter-ply friction has a huge effect on the quality of the preform when inter-ply sliding occurs. This inter-ply friction leads to several overhanging yarn shocks that generate high tangential forces, which inhibit the relative sliding of plies. In addition, to reduce the number and amplitude of defects, the layers subjected to severe defects can be placed in the inner position where they are subjected to the compression applied by the upper layers.     

Influence of the tufting yarns on formability of tufted 3-Dimensional composite reinforcement

In aerospace industry, thicker and more complex composite parts are needed. Multilayered reinforcement is largely used as the traditional method. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) fabrics are developed to replace the multilayered reinforcements in certain applications to increase the performance in thickness direction of part, e.g. interlock structure. Currently, the development of tufting technology can be employed to produce the 3D textile composite reinforcements. The tufting parameters, such as tufting density, tufting length and tufting yarn orientations, can be completely controlled by user. In order to improve the understanding of formability of the tufted 3D fabric during manufacturing, the present work analyzes the preforming behaviours of tufted 3D reinforcement in the hemispherical stamping process. Also the preforming behaviours are compared with the samples of the multilayered forming. The experimental data demonstrated the influence of tufting yarns on the material draw-in, interply sliding, and winkling phenomenon during forming. Furthermore, the orientations of tufting yarn affected the forming results, which leaded to misalignment defect in the zone of strong in-plane shear.     

In-situ damage sensing of woven composites using carbon nanotube conductive networks

We report an in situ analysis of the microstructure of woven composites using carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductive networks. Two types of specimens with stacking sequences of (0/90)_s (on-axis) and (22/85/−85/−22) (off-axis) were manufactured using ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers and a CNT-dispersed epoxy matrix via vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. The changes in the electrical resistance of the woven composites in response to uniaxial loading corresponded to the changes in the gradient of the stress–strain curves, which is indicative of the initiation and accumulation of microscopic cracking and delamination. The electrical resistance of the woven composites increased due to both elongation and microscopic damage; interestingly, however, it decreased beyond a certain strain level. In situ X-ray computed tomography and biaxial loading tests reveal that this transition is due to yarn compaction and Poisson’s contraction, which are manifest in textile composites.