smarttextile

Smart textiles, also called smarttextiles, are fabrics enhanced with electronic components that enable sensing, actuation, data processing, or communication. By embedding flexible electronics within textile substrates, smart textiles can monitor physiological or environmental conditions, respond to stimuli, or connect with other devices while retaining the comfort and appearance of ordinary clothing and upholstery.

Core elements include sensors for temperature, moisture, strain, or biometrics; actuators such as heating elements or shape‑memory materials; energy sources including woven or printed batteries and supercapacitors; and communication means like conductive yarns, textile antennas, or printed circuits. Components are integrated through knitting, weaving, embroidery, lamination, or layer‑by‑layer assembly.

Common materials are conductive fibers and yarns made from silver, copper, carbon, or graphene; polymers such as conductive polyaniline or PEDOT; and traditional fabrics (cotton, polyester, nylon) that host the electronics. Durability, washability, and comfort remain central design considerations.

Applications span health and fitness monitoring, rehabilitation, and medical devices; sports performance and apparel; industrial safety and worker protection; military and aerospace garments; fashion and interactive consumer products; and heating or cooling garments. Some systems also harvest energy from the wearer or environment to extend operation.

Development faces challenges in durability, power management, data security, and interoperability across products. Standards and testing regimes address wash cycles, mechanical wear, and safety, while ongoing research aims to improve reliability, comfort, and cost-effectiveness to enable broader adoption.