Innovative Functional Textiles and Their Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Functional and performance-based textiles must serve a multitude of purposes, from thermal and chemical protection to enhancing physiological comfort and ergonomic mobility. At the root of functional clothing design is the optimal balance of these often competing user needs, which must be considered both individually and holistically for the impact that each has on the wearer. New fiber, yarn, and fabric technologies are developed every day, with numerous protective clothing and performance apparel applications. From tactial athletes and first responders, such as firefighters and law enforcement, to military personnel and healthcare workers, the demand for a better balance between protection and comfort in functional textiles and apparel has never been greater. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted these needs due to the increase in the use of reusable PPE, which often faces criticism from a breathability and comfort perspective. In many industrial occupations, such as construction, mining, agriculture, and welding, personal protective clothing (PPC) is often under-considered, especially in terms of reducing the onset of heat-related illnesses and heat stress.

Another example of the need for innovative functional textile research is in the fire service. With the mandated removal of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) from structural firefighting turnout gear, alternative polyurethane (PU) membranes have been adopted. Consequently, this multi-layer protective clothing system's breathability and capacity for heat loss have been drastically reduced. Much research is needed in this area, as this material change further increases firefighters’ risk of overexertion and cardiovascular strain, which are currently the most prevalent causes of firefighter fatalities. Both passive and active design modifications, as well as wearable technology solutions, exist from the fiber to the garment level, with the potential to either directly or indirectly alleviate the often unintended consequences of making initial material or design changes to complex protective clothing systems.

Therefore, this Special Issue on “Innovative Functional Textiles and Their Applications” welcomes articles that investigate novel textile technologies in numerous functional and protective apparel applications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The impact of fluorine-free finishes on the performance and durability of functional apparel;
• Innovative wearble systems for biophysical and/or exposure monitoring;
• Assessments of material and design modifications for improved ergonomic mobility;
• Personal protective clothing and equipment’s challenges and performance in the healthcare industry;
• The affect of various types of functional performance apparel on human performance;
• Assessments of the care and maintenance of novel finishes over the useful life of products;
• Novel findings related to developed methodologies used to assess innovative textile functionalities;
• The performance of innovative functional textiles in numerous apparel applications;
• The application of innovative textiles in PPE ensemble elements (gloves, boots, helmets, masks, etc.).

Dr. Meredith McQuerry
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• textiles
• functional apparel
• material
• fabric
• garment
• protective clothing
• personal protective equipment
• wearable technology
• comfort
• mobility

Title: Thermochromic Yarns’ Application in Fever Detection for Young Children
Author: Sibei Xia, Chuanlan Liu, Yanbo Zhang and Bruce Cameron
Highlights: The literature analysis highlights the necessity of creating body temperature monitoring devices that can continually and inconspicuously measure the temperatures of young children. Such a product will ease parents’ worries about fever and provide a means to monitor their children’s body temperature. Advanced textiles, such as smart textiles or functional textiles, have the potential to provide answers because of their flexibility and ability to be worn near the body. Although incorporating electrical devices into smart textiles has posed difficulties regarding comfort and washability, researchers have investigated functional textiles using thermochromic mechanisms to monitor body temperature. Nevertheless, current studies on thermochromic fabrics encounter difficulties maintaining material flexibility, conducting tests in a simulated body temperature environment, or exploring consumer perception of the product. This research aims to investigate using thermochromic materials to monitor fever in young children in the format of a hat. It focuses on consumer perception and testing in a controlled environment, simulating fever and non-fever conditions. The results justify the usability and commercial values of the prototype and suggest alternative media for implementing the functional yarn based on consumer studies.