A review of noteworthy/major innovations in wearable clothing for thermal and moisture management from material to fabric structure

Abstract

The human body exchanges heat through the environment by various means, such as radiation, evaporation, conduction, and convection. Thermo-physiological comfort is associated with the effective heat transfer between the body and the atmosphere, maintaining the body temperature in a tolerable thermal range (36.5–37.5ºC). In order to ensure comfort, the body heat must be preserved or emitted, depending on external conditions. If the body heat is not properly managed, it can cause hyperthermia, heatstroke, and thermal discomfort. Conventionally, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are used to provide comfort. However, they require a huge amount of energy, leading to an increase in global warming, and are limited to indoor applications. In recent decades, scientists across the world have been working to provide thermal comfort through wearable innovative textiles. This review article presents recent innovative strategies for moisture and/or thermal management at the material, filament/fiber, yarn, and fabric scales. It also summarizes the passive/active textile models for comfort. Integrating electrical devices in garments can rapidly control the skin temperature, and is dynamic and useful for a wide range of environmental conditions. However, their use can be limited in some situations due to their bulky design and batteries, which must be frequently recharged. Furthermore, adaptive textiles enable the wearer to maintain comfort in various temperatures and humidity without requiring batteries. Using these wearable textiles is convenient to provide thermal comfort at the individual level rather than controlling the entire building temperature.

Super-Hydrophobicity of Polyester Fabrics Driven by Functional Sustainable Fluorine-Free Silane-Based Coatings

“…For the PL_G_C16_C16 and PL_G_C8_C16 samples, the air permeability of polyester fabrics was not significantly impacted by the coating, indicating good overall breathability of the textiles substrates and making it appropriate for use in a variety of industrial-related areas. because it is apparent that non-coated fabrics exhibit higher permeability than treated fabrics because of their low thicknesses and high porosity [66]. Here, it is clear that the air permeability of fabrics is slightly reduced by treating fabrics with hydrophobic alkyl(trialkoxy) silane formulations.…”

“…One of a fabric's most crucial properties, primarily intended for technological or smart textile applications, is air permeability, which is closely related to porosity [65]. Finishings can influence this behavior because it is apparent that non-coated fabrics exhibit higher permeability than treated fabrics because of their low thicknesses and high porosity [66]. Here, it is clear that the air permeability of fabrics is slightly reduced by treating fabrics with hydrophobic alkyl(trialkoxy) silane formulations.…”

Development of Piezoresistive Sensors Based on Graphene Nanoplatelets Screen-Printed on Woven and Knitted Fabrics: Optimisation of Active Layer Formulation and Transversal/Longitudinal Textile Direction

“…In addition to the role as a social communication tool [ 1 ] and the function of protection against environmental factors [ 2 ], textiles, by wrapping the body, can be the “territory” to detect internal (corporeal) and external (environmental) stimuli. This is the concept of Smart Textiles, in other words, fabrics that can interact with the environment/user by detecting and, sometimes, reacting and adapting to mechanical, thermal, chemical or electrical stimuli [ 3 ].…”

Fabrication of air‐conditioning tussah silk with capric–stearic eutectic mixture for effective energy storage and thermal‐regulatory applications

“…Second, temperature stabilized phase change materials (PCMs) are considered as an ideal material for the accumulation and release of energy in a timely response to the corresponding temperature change 7–9 . Namely, when the external temperature rises to the phase change temperature, PCMs in the fabric absorb much heat to change the solid state to a liquid state, accompanied by an endothermic process to slow down the rate of rise of the human body surface temperature, whereas the result is reversed with an exothermic process to lower the decreasing rate of the human body surface temperature when the external temperature drops to the phase change temperature 10–13 . Thus, both fiber material and suitable PCMs are straightforward parameters that should be thoroughly studied for a superior thermal‐regulatory textile.…”