Smart textile developers draw on diverse fields of knowledge to produce unique materials with enhanced properties and vast potential. Several disciplines outside the traditional textile area are involved in the construction of these smart textiles, and each individual field has its own language, specific terms and approaches. Multidisciplinary know-how for smart-textiles developers provides a filtered knowledge of these areas of expertise, explaining key expressions and demonstrating their relevance to the smart textiles field. Part one reviews materials employed in the production of smart textiles, before part two explores the technologies that may be used and incorporated into smart textiles. Finally, product development and applications are the focus of part three.

Key Features: reviews materials used in the production of smart textiles; examines the technologies used in smart textiles, such as optical fibres and polymer based resistive sensors; investigates strategies for technology management, innovation and improved development.

Contents: The future of smart-textiles development: New enabling technologies, commercialisation and market trends. Part 1 Materials: Types and processing of electro-conductive and semiconducting materials for smart textiles; Optical fibres for smart photonic textiles; Conductive nanofibres and nanocoatings for smart textiles; Polymer-based resistive sensors for smart textiles; Soft capacitance fibers for touch-sensitive smart textiles. Part 2 Technologies: Textile fabrication technologies for embedding electronic functions into fibres, yarns and fabrics; Fabrication technologies for the integration of thin-film electronics into smart textiles; Organic and large-area electronic (OLAE) technologies for smart textiles; Joining technologies for smart textiles; Kinetic, thermoelectric and solar energy harvesting technologies for smart textiles; Signal processing technologies for activity-aware smart textiles. Part 3 Product development and applications: Technology management and innovation strategies in the development of smart textiles; Improving the sustainability of smart textiles; Medical applications of smart textiles; Automotive applications of smart textiles; Architectural applications of smart textiles.

About the Author

Dr Tunde Kirstein is editor-in-chief of the Sulzer Technical Review, based in Winterthur, Switzerland. Formerly senior researcher at the Wearable Computing Lab of ETH Zurich and project coordinator at the Swiss Textile College, Dr Kirstein has carried out several smart-textiles projects with scientific and industrial partners. She has also achieved great success as journalist and PR manager, and has extensive experience in organizing workshops and symposiums for the industry.

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