SMART MATERIALS

GoTech clothing works with a variety of smart materials and textiles and currently engineer new ways to re-invent our fabrics. We combine science and textiles in our company and use new innovative textiles, materials and fibres. Here are some examples of different materials we use in our clothing range:

Chromic paint/dyes 
These dyes react to the environment around it. This is usually light, heat, pressure and liquid. However, what the dye does is changes the colour of the fabric to react to this. You will have seen this in mugs that change colour when hot water is put inside.

Micro-encapsulation  

This material involves small capsules that are weaved or knitted into fabrics. These capsules when broken can release different things such as fragrances also refer to as scratch and sniff, anti-bacterial to disinfect wounds. These are usually used in natural microfibers. 

Shape Memory Alloy

Shape memory alloys are products that remember the shape it was before. This can be incorporated into fashion so that when it reacts to heat it will remember the shape it was before and resume that shape. This is done with Nitinol wire as it is burnt in the shape you want it to remember so that when it is stretch out and passes over heat it will remember resume its shape. 

Biomimicry
Biomimicry is the natural example of chromic materials. Where as chromic materials react to light and heat they are synthetic and resemble the action of biomimicry in nature. Natural examples of biomimicry are used on acorns. Under each spike on an acorn there is a layer of chemicals that reacts to the heat of the weather as acorns like to spread seeds and they don't spread efficiently in the winter so the acorn close up in the winter and then re-open in summer to spread there seeds. E.g. fastskin. 

Conductive textiles  

Conductive textiles are made with metal strands and are coated with a metal layer that allows the fabric to conduct electricity.  This is done by suing quantum tunneling composites that allow the fabric to conduct electricity.

Breathable fabrics

Breathable fabrics allow body moisture to evaporate from the body. This will reduce moisture on the body such as sweating. This would normally be used in raincoats to keep the body dry but still on a warm day to allow the body moisture to evaporate. An example of this is Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex fabric has big enough holes that allow body moisture to be realised but are too small to let rain in. Coolmax is the same however instead of holes it is shaped fibres. 

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular scale. These nano-particles are inserted into the fabric. These fabrics can then create stain resistant or wrinkle resistant materials as well as antimicrobial for hospitals.

Electrical devices

Electrical devices can now be embedded into clothing and materials. There is existing joggers that can monitor performance as well as the life t-shirt that can blood pressure. These electrical devices are in the clothing and have a power source to power the electrical device however they are referred to as interactive textiles. If I was to look into this I would look at GPS tacking devices to add or health monitor.

Reflective material 

Reflective material/ tape is a modern material that reflects light. This type of material is usually used in clothing for someone to show that they are visible. For example, cyclists or road workers will wear clothing with reflective tape on so that when car headlights reflect it and makes them visible.