Date:13/10/16

New smart textile is the muscle behind next generation devices

Scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electro materials Science (ACES) for the first time have developed a smart textile. This smart textile is made out from carbon nanotube and spandex fibers. Both materials can respond to the stimulus like a muscle or joint.
 
That means it’s sensing and response capabilities are the holy grail of its research. Scientists developed this smart textile in collaboration with the Prof Geoff Spinks and the United States collaborator Prof Ray Baughman.
 
This new smart textile material generates mechanical work capacity. Its power output is higher than the output produced by human muscles. Additionally, it is expandable enough for the fabrication of industrial quantities.
 
Previously, scientists have developed such smart materials as sensors. They then integrate them into a device like a knee sleeve to control, the joint movement.
 
Dr. Javad Foroughi said, “Our recent work allowed us to develop smart clothing. It simultaneously monitors the wearer’s movements, senses strain, and adjusts the garment to support or correct the movement.” It can be used in robotics, smart sensors for lab on chip devices.
 
ACES Director Prof. Gordon Wallace said, “The breadth of expertise required to enable fundamental materials science discoveries and their application into practical structures is enormous.”
 
“It can only be done in a reasonable time frame within a culture like ACES that encourages the forging of appropriate research alliances,” he added.
 
According to Wallace, Its capability of sensing and responding to stimulus are the holy grail of intelligent materials research. This fundamental discovery will find widespread application.
 
Dr. Foroughi said, “Working with world-class scientists Prof Geoff Spinks and the United States collaborator Prof Ray Baughman made it possible to create the first generation 3D carbon nanotube knitted smart textile.”

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