Sensory materials are characterized by their capacity for self-detection and active response. Due to their adaptive and sensory capabilities, these materials will be used more and more to obtain multifunctional clothing products. For describing fabric handle it can use the following terms [ASTM Standard D123 (2003)]:
the flexibility refers to the ease of bending;
the density describes the mass/unit volume;
resiliency is the ability to recover from deformation;
the compressibility consists of ease of squeezing;
the extensibility to refers the ease of stretching;
the surface is characterized by resistance to slipping;
the surface contour – divergence of the surface from the fabric plane;
the thermal character that is defined by the apparent temperature difference between fabric and skin.
Fundamental knowledge of the relationships between the structure and properties of these materials is the key to success in obtaining new multifunctional products.