Prof Van Parys reports about recent smart product democases using thermochrome and luminescent sensor inks. This resulted in fascinating new products like a baby suit that changes color (when wet), or a bikini that measures light intensity and indicates the amount of sun screen to apply to the skin.

1. Smart - Responsive
Interactive - Communicative
Textiles
Prof. Dr. Marc Van Parys
Sirris - Brussels 9.06.2011

2. Finishing Production Service
Finishing Production Service
Plasma Knitting Training
Coating & Laminating Weaving, incl. 3D-weaving & Advice
leno Testing
incl. UV-coating, Hot melt
Advanced spinning (chemical, physical)
Magnetron sputtering
Braiding
Digital Technologies
(coating, Printing) ...
Adaptive polymers
Self Stratification polymers
Research
Nanotechnology IWT - Private & collective projects (13)
Chromic sensors European projects
Biochemistry Private projects (chemical & machine suppliers)

3. Always Breeding on
Digital prin+ng ‐ Coa+ng
Atmospheric Plasma
CO2‐Laser‐engineering
Coa+ng, incl. Hotmelt & UV‐coa+ng
Magnetron SpuBering Technology
Advanced coa+ngs
Chromic sensors
Nanotechnology ...

4. MINIATURISATION OF ELECTRONICS IINTRINSIC PROPERTIES
Electronics Portable Integrated Dynamic Textiles
electronics electronics textiles
PDA, Laptop Sensing, control, PCM, CR, Clothing,
TV, radio,
mobile phone actuators sensoric- work wear
computer
dyes... carpets
Software becomes Softwear
Portable becomes Wearable
• Multi-disciplinary approach needed
- Spinners, weavers, knitters, finishers
- Electronics, data analysts, designers, garment makers
• Personalised Performance build around
• Well being
• Protection
• Comfort

5. Thinking - Dynamic Textile
PRODUCT INNOVATION BASED ON
I-TEXTILE
PROTECTION & WELL-NESS COMMUNICATION
SECURITY WELL-BEING INFORMATION
PROJECT SCIENTIFIC PARTNER
DATE
2009-2010 TYP
THINKING INK

6. Colour change
Visible
warning ° Reversible
Sign
° Irreversible
Sensing & Adaptive, Interactive
Detecting Corrective Action
Change External stimuli
pH, T
Warning Sign Friction/pressure
& Electrolyte
Corrective Action
PROJECT
DATE
2009-2011 TYPÊ
IWT-PROJECT

7. - ADAPTIVE POLYMERS - SHAPE MEMORY POLYMERS
- SOL-GEL (INCL. UV-CURABLE)
- DENDRIMERS
- INTERPENETRATING NETWORKS
- SELF-STRATIFICATION POLYMERS
- BRUSH POLYMERS
- SELF-HEALING POLYMERS
- STF (SHEAR THICKENER FLUIDS) ...
PROJECT
DATE
2009-2010 TYPE
IWT-PROJECT

8. PROJECT
CHALLENGE 1:
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT OF
NEW THERMOCHROMICS
DATE
2009-2011 TYPE
IWT-PROJECT

9. Supply Chain Approach
9

10. Project
DATE
2009-2010

11. Research Modules
11

12. PHYSICAL - CHEMICAL
STIMULI/TRIGGER
THERMOCHROMIC Temperature
PHOTOCHROMIC UV‐light ‐ or other Light of the Spectrum
SOLVATOCHROMIC Solvent ‐ Water
IONOCHROMIC PH (acid, alkaline) ‐ Ions
PROJECT
DATE
2009-2011 TYPE
IWT-PROJECT

13. HIGH CLEARING POINT
+ ∆T
- ∆T
Coloured State Colourless
State
Microcapsules

14. LOW CLEARING POINT
+ ∆T
- ∆T
ColourLess State Coloured State
Microcapsules

15. Thermochromics ­ Mechanism

16. + ∆T
- ∆T
Coloured State ≠ Coloured State
MIX OF TWO COLOURS

17. TGA­analysis ­ thermosensibility

18. DSC­analysis ­ Cyclic behaviour of the functionality

19. ACTUAL THERMOCHROMICS
PROBLEMS
ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGY NOT OPTIMAL
LOW SHELF LIFE
WIDE T-WINDOW
NON DURABLE SYSTEMS
NOT ADAPTED FOR TEXTILES
ONLY FOR GADGETS & NOT FUNCTIONALITIES

20. CONVENTIONAL
Improvement of
PROJECT
µcapsulation technology
DATE
2009-2011 TYP

21. SHELL
‐ Transparent
‐ Protec+ve layer
CORE
‐ Leuco‐dyestuff
‐ ‘Nonvola+le’ solvent’
‐ Colour developer
Conventional single-wall Microcapsules

22. CONVENTIONAL NEW
Improvement of
PROJECT
µcapsulation technology
DATE
2009-2011 TYP

23. CHALLENGE 2: on level of
COMPOUND
23

24. CHALLENGE – KEY WORDS
Project
DATE
2009-2010

25. Thermochromics Ionochromics
Hydrochromics
- indica+ng T (<‐15 ‐ 80 °C>) ‐ indica+ng dehydrata+on ‐ indica+ng presence of H20
(accuracy < 1°C) (salt & water loss)
Technology: µcapsules

26. Monitoring - Evaluations
• CMS - coupled to
heating elements (real-
time measurements)
• Measuring Clearing
point/window
• Fastness properties
Rub - wash - sweat ...

27. Challenge 3:
Research Flow - Application technology

28. It’s all about Added Value !
28

29. The Factory of the Future
Challenges of new Finishing/Coating/Printing
technology systems
VOC- Energy X
emission consumption
  
Chemicals

30. Actual and Future Research on
Application technlogies
Sensoric Textiles
Focus on:
1. Printing - Conventional Screen
2. Coating
- Conventional waterborne systems
- UV-curable systems
- Hot melts
3. Digital Technologies

31. Actual & Future
Situation in
Textile Coating/Printing
Solvent based systems Water based systems 100%
systems
Limited to Powder Hot melt
winding Coating head laminating stenter cooling upwinding
Coating Laminating Curing

32. UV‐curable hotmelts
FR AM
CHROMIC SENSORS
32

33. CHALLENGE
Link between CreaAvity ‐ FuncAonality
Project
DATE
2009-2011

34. Application Technologies
Coating Printing
Conventional coating Conventional printing
UV-coating Digital printing

35. Solvent based systems Water based systems 100%
systems
Limited to Powder Hot melt
winding Coating head laminating stenter cooling upwinding
35
Coating Laminating Curing

36. Advantages Disadvantages
No solvent = inflammable Relatively expensive chemicals
Little energy required Monomers/oligomers
Fast drying/curing UV can cause burns - avoid skin contact
No drying untill UV exposed
High production speeds Ozone generation
Thermosensitive Prints - Coatings (low flexibility)
Little space required Unknown Technology (for most)
Relatively low equipment cost Adhesion problems on some substrates (but can
- Less space requirements be solved)
- Modular - implementation in
excisting coating line

37. Creativity <-> Functionality

38. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS:
Focus on :
Piezo Valve-jet
Func+onali+es :
UV‐lacquers ‐ Coa+ngs Func+onali+es :
Photochromic sensors UV‐coa+ngs
TiO2‐coa+ngs Chromic sensors...
Easy‐clean... More freedom of acAon
Technology is supplier driven

39. VALVE-JET
DROPLET VARIATION
THERMOCHROMIC COATING HYDROCHROMIC COATING
T-RANGE: -15 - 80 °C
PROJECT
DATE
2009-2010 KLANT
THINKING COATINGS

40. UV-sources-LEDs
Digital Jets other cuirng systems

42. Chromism
Photochromism Chromics available
Thermochromism
Electrochromism
Piezochromism
Tribochromism • Range from -15°C - 80 °C
Mechanochromism
• High shelf-live
Chemochromism
Ionochromism
• T-window < 1°C
Solvatochromism
Gasochromism
• Different Colours (trichrome)
Vapochromism
Biochromism
• Durability (up to 30 washes)
PROJECT
DATE
2009-2011 TYPE
IWT-PROJECT

43. AIM
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS THERMO CHROMICS
DATE
2009-2010 Project

44. Actual and Future Research on
Application technlogies
Sensoric Textiles
Focus on:
1.Thermochromics
a. Liquid crystals
b. Irreversible systems
2. Photochromics
a. Conventional waterborne systems
b. UV-curable systems
c. Digital inks
3. Ionochromics
4. Hydrochromics

45. Chromism
Photochromism
Thermochromism
Electrochromism
Piezochromism
Tribochromism
Mechanochromism
Chemochromism
Ionochromism
Solvatochromism
Gasochromism
Vapochromism
Biochromism
PROJECT
DATE
2009-2010 TYPE
IWT-PROJECT

46. Challenge:
Incorporation in UV-curable matrix

47. AIM
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS THERMO CHROMICS
DATE
2009-2010 Project

48. Focus on :
DP-Printer
Textile Smart Inks + pherical
Specific
IR-inks Tailor made
Pretreatments:
Photochromic-inks DP-printers
Colour gamut
Colour build up Metallic inks
Electroluminescent inks Link 3D-DP
Durability

49. PHOTOCHROMICS ­ Mechanism

51. Aim
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS PHOTO CHROMICS
Project
DATE
2009-2010

52. CONCLUSiONS -15 µcapsules < 80 °C
CHROMIC TEXTILE
IMPLEMENTED TECHNOLOGIES ENABLING TEXTILE TO SENSE AND DETECT
CHANGES IN ITS IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT BY VISUAL COLOUR CHANGE
Project
DATE
2009-2010

53. CONCLUSIONS
• Huge Potential of Chromic Sensors
• Responsive, Interactive Textiles
• Chromic Sensors adapted for a wide variety of
advanced textile applications (medical, sports,
healtcare, ...)
• Alternative for electronic sensors, wearable
electronics
• Further research needed for photo- , iono- and
hydrochromics
• Partnership is essential - all actors in supply chain
must be involved in developments and
valorisation

54. NY
COMPA
PY OUR ATION
ER U INNOV
POW rough
Th
RENT A LAB
University College Gent
Phone: +32-9-244 79 11
Email: marc.vanparys&hogent.be