Definitions and classification

Fibres, yarns, and fabrics that have been designed and manufactured to contain technologies that give the user with greater functionality are known as smart textiles. In this chapter, we review the definitions and classifications of smart textiles based on different perspectives. 

Definitions of smart textiles

Intelligent or smart materials are the source of the term ‘smart textiles’. In 1989, Japan was the first country to define the term ‘Smart Material’. Silk thread with shape memory was the first textile material to be labelled as a ‘smart textile’ in retrospect. Smart textiles, also known as intelligent textiles, electro or e-textiles, are intelligent materials that detect and respond to external stimuli.  Simpler functional textiles are sometimes included in the definition of smart textiles [1,2].

The first formal definition was found as ‘smart textiles is composed of materials or structures that sense and react to environmental stimuli, such as those from mechanical, thermal, chemical, magnetic or other’ [3].

According to European committee for standardization (CEN), the definition of smart textile system is: ‘Assembly of textiles and non-textiles integrated into a product that retains its textile properties and interacts with its environment’ [4].

The CEN gives additional definition about integration levels:

integration


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References

[1] Van Langenhove L, Hertleer C. Smart clothing: A new life. Int J Cloth Sci Technol 2004;16:63–72. https://doi.org/10.1108/09556220410520360.

[2] Tao X. Handbook of smart textiles. Hung Hom, Hong Kong: Springer Singapore; 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4451-45-1.

[3] Tao X. Smart Fibres, Fabrics and Clothing:Fundamentals and Applications. Woodhead Publishing Limited; 2001.

[4] European committee for standardization (CEN), Technical report, PDCEN/TR 16298:2011. 2011.

[5] Stoppa M, Chiolerio A. Wearable electronics and smart textiles: A critical review. Sensors (Switzerland) 2014;14:11957–92. https://doi.org/10.3390/s140711957.

[6] Zhang XX, Tao X. Smart textiles : Passive smart. Text Asia 2001;32:45–8.

[7] Zhang XX, Tao X. Smart textiles : Active smart. Text Asia 2001;32:49–52.

[8] Zhang X, Tao X. Smart textiles : Very smart. Text Asia 2001;32:35–7.