Textiles

There is limited knowledge about the benefits of functional textile in arthritis management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of wearing functional socks in patients with rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis. Patients were randomized into an experimental group (n = 23) and control group (n = 18). The intervention involved wearing functional textile socks for 12 weeks. Sock composition was analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. Outcome measures included the Numeric Rating Scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and RAND-36 (Estonian version). At week 12, the experimental group showed significantly lower metatarsophalangeal and toe joint pain (p = 0.001), stiffness (p = 0.005), and ankle stiffness (p = 0.017) scores than the control group. Improvements were also observed in HAQ-DI reaching (p = 0.035) and activity (p = 0.028) scores. RAND-36 scores were higher in physical functioning (p = 0.013), social functioning (p = 0.024), and bodily pain (p = 0.006). Role limitations due to physical problems improved in the experimental group but worsened in the control group (p = 0.029). In conclusion, wearing functional socks led to some statistically significant improvements in foot and ankle pain and stiffness, physical function, and health-related quality of life. However, the effect sizes were small, and the clinical relevance of these findings should be interpreted with caution. Full article

Car interior design should evoke emotions, offer comfort, convey safety and at the same time project the brand identity of the car manufacturer. Lighting is used to address these functions. Modules required for automotive interior lighting often feature injection-moulded (IM) light guides, whereas woven fabrics with polymer optical fibres (POFs) offer certain technological advantages and show first-series applications in cars. In the future, car interior illumination will become even more important in the wake of megatrends such as autonomous driving. Since the increase in deployment of these technologies facilitates a need for an economical comparison, this paper aims to deliver a cost-driven approach to fulfil the aforementioned objective. Therefore, the cost structures of the supply chains for an IM-based and a POF-based illumination module are analysed. The employed research methodologies include an activity-based costing approach for which the data is collected via document analysis and guideline-based expert interviews. To account for data uncertainty, Monte Carlo simulations are conducted. POF-based lighting modules have lower initial costs due to continuous fibre production and weaving processes, but are associated with higher unit costs. This is caused by the discontinuous assembly of the rolled woven fabric which allows postponement strategies. The development costs of the mould generate high initial costs for IM light guides, which makes them beneficial only for high quantities of produced light guides. For the selected scenario, the POF-based module’s self-costs are 11.05 EUR/unit whereas the IM module’s self-costs are 14,19 EUR/unit. While the cost structures are relatively independent from the selected scenario, the actual self-costs are highly dependent on boundary conditions such as production volume. Full article

Graphene has emerged as a promising material for transforming conventional textiles into smart, multi-functional platforms due to its exceptional electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in graphene-enhanced fabrics over the past ten years, focusing on their functional properties and real-world applications. This article examines the main strategies used to incorporate graphene and its derivatives—such as graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide—into textile substrates through coating, printing, or composite formation. The structural, electrical, thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of these fabrics are discussed based on characterization techniques including microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Functional evaluations in wearable strain sensors, biosignal acquisition, electrothermal systems, and energy storage devices are highlighted to demonstrate the versatility of these materials. Although challenges remain in scalability, durability, and washability, recent developments in fabrication and encapsulation methods show significant potential to overcome these limitations. This review concludes by outlining the major opportunities and future directions for graphene-based textiles in areas such as personalized health monitoring, active thermal wear, and integrated wearable electronics. Full article

With the rapid development of wearable electronics, traditional rigid thermal management materials face limitations in flexibility, conformability, and multi-physics adaptability. Low-dimensional carbon materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes combine ultrahigh thermal conductivity with outstanding mechanical compliance, making them promising building blocks for flexible thermal regulation. This review summarizes recent advances in integrating these materials into textile architectures, mapping the evolution of this emerging field. Key topics include phonon-dominated heat transfer mechanisms, strategies for modulating interfacial thermal resistance, and dimensional effects across scales; beyond these intrinsic factors, hierarchical textile configurations further tailor macroscopic performance. We highlight how one-dimensional fiber bundles, two-dimensional woven fabrics, and three-dimensional porous networks construct multi-directional thermal pathways while enhancing porosity and stress tolerance. As for practical applications, the performance of carbon-based textiles in wearable systems, flexible electronic packaging, and thermal coatings is also critically assessed. Current obstacles—namely limited manufacturing scalability, interfacial mismatches, and thermal performance degradation under repeated deformation—are analyzed. To overcome these challenges, future studies should prioritize the co-design of structural and thermo-mechanical properties, the integration of multiple functionalities, and optimization guided by data-driven approaches. This review thus lays a solid foundation for advancing carbon-based smart textiles toward next-generation flexible thermal management technologies. Full article

To develop cement-based composite materials with exceptional impact resistance, this study investigates the impact resistance performance of steel fiber- and glass fiber-reinforced specimens, as well as steel fiber and glass fiber textile-reinforced specimens, through drop weight impact tests. The results showed that the impact resistance of specimens increases with the number of glass fiber textile layers, glass fiber volume fractions, and glass fiber lengths, with 36GF1.5SF1.0 exhibitinh ultra-high impact resistance with a failure impact energy of 114 kJ. Compared to the specimens reinforced with glass textiles, the specimens with glass fiber showed better impact resistance at the same volume fraction. The failure mode of unreinforced specimens is divided into several pieces, while fiber-reinforced specimens have local punching shear failure at the impact site, maintaining better integrity. An impact damage evolution equation and life prediction model based on a two-parameter Weibull distribution are developed. The research results will provide a reference for the selection of fibers for engineering applications. Full article

This study aimed to examine the effect of the orientation angle of center facing arms on the elongation and strength of 3D-printed textiles with two different re-entrant cellular auxetic structures. An experimental research design, consisting of 6 (auxetic-structure textiles) × 3 (repetition), was employed. Star-shaped re-entrant auxetic structures (star re-entrant) with orientation angles of 25°, 30°, and 35° and floral-based star-shaped re-entrant auxetic structures (floral re-entrant) with orientation angles of 55°, 60°, and 65° were developed using the fused deposition modeling 3D-printing method through identifying commonly used auxetic structures in the 3D-printed textiles’ development. A statistically significant relationship was found between load and elongation of both star re-entrant and floral re-entrant. The findings indicated that 3D-printed textiles with both star re-entrant and floral re-entrant structures exhibited an enhanced elongation with the increase in orientation angle, making the textile products more flexible and potentially providing better wear comfort. However, the strength of both star re-entrant and floral re-entrant textiles was not significantly affected by the orientation angle of center facing arms. The findings demonstrated the potential to enhance the elongation of 3D-printed auxetic-structure textiles without compromising their strength for ensuing comfort by adjusting the orientation angle of center facing arms. Full article

The environmental burden of textile waste has become a critical challenge for sustainable development. This review explores recent developments in the recycling of textiles, especially polyethylene tereph-2 thalate (PET)-based fabrics, with a focus on fiber-to-fiber regeneration as a pathway toward circular textile production. Recent developments in PET recycling, such as mechanical and chemical recycling methods, are critically examined, highlighting the potential of chemical depolymerization for recovering high-purity monomers suitable for textile-grade PET synthesis. Special attention is given to electrospinning as an emerging technology for converting recycled PET into high-value nanofibers, offering functional properties suitable for advanced applications in filtration, medical textiles, and smart fabrics. The integration of these innovations, alongside improved sorting technologies and circular design strategies, is essential for overcoming current limitations and enabling scalable, high-quality recycling systems. This review aims to support the development of a more resource efficient textile industry by outlining key challenges, technologies, and future directions in PET recycling. Full article

Sewing is the major contributor to the manufacturing of protection wear for the survival of early human civilization against extreme weather conditions. Mechanized sewing witnessed developments during the middle of the 19th century, and tedious handwork was replaced by sewing machines. Despite the modernization of sewing machine technologies, speed, material thicknesses, automation, and the introduction of AI in sewing, there is a longstanding problem of heat loss along stitch lines. The sewing material is compressed by the sewing thread, and this compression results in a bridge between the human body and the external cold environment. Garment technologists identify this problem and due to the lack of any technological solution, the problem is solved through complex material handling methods. A new sewing technological solution has been developed to solve this problem, called spacer stitching, which addresses the problem of compression along stitch lines. Two baffled jackets with sewn-through methods are prepared, one with the spacer stitching technology and the other with conventional sewing. Thermal resistance and insulation efficiency are evaluated using the Thermetrics thermal manikin “Sonny” under dynamic (walking) conditions to analyze the thermal resistance difference between the two types of sewing methods as well as the effects of motion on insulation. The results reveal that the jacket made with spacer stitching demonstrates significantly higher thermal resistance and enhanced wearer comfort compared to that produced using conventional methods. Additionally, variations in thermal resistance are observed across different zones of the thermal manikin. These findings highlight the potential of spacer stitching to improve thermal insulation and revolutionize high-performance outerwear design. Full article

Advancements in thermoregulating textiles have been propelled by innovations in nanotechnology, composite materials, and smart fiber engineering. This article reviews recent scholarly papers on experimental passive and active thermoregulating textiles to present the latest advancements in these fabrics, their mechanisms of thermoregulation, and their feasibility for use. The review underscores that phase-change materials enhanced with graphene, boron nitride, and carbon nanofibers offer superior thermal conductivity, phase stability, and flexibility, making them ideal for wearable applications. Shape-stabilized phase-change materials and aerogel-infused fibers have shown promising results in outdoor, industrial, and emergency settings due to their durability and high insulation efficiency. Radiative cooling textiles, engineered with hierarchical nanostructures and Janus wettability, demonstrate passive temperature regulation through selective solar reflection and infrared emission, achieving substantial cooling effects without external energy input. Thermo-responsive, shape-memory materials, and moisture-sensitive polymers enable dynamic insulation and actuation. Liquid-cooling garments and thermoelectric hybrids deliver precise temperature control but face challenges in portability and power consumption. While thermoregulating textiles show promise, the main challenges include achieving scalable manufacturing, ensuring material flexibility, and integrating multiple functions without sacrificing comfort. Future research should focus on hybrid systems combining passive and active mechanisms, user-centric wearability studies, and cost-effective fabrication methods. These innovations hold significant potential for applications in extreme environments, athletic wear, military uniforms, and smart clothing, contributing to energy efficiency, health, and comfort in a warming climate. Full article

The rapid production and disposal of synthetic textiles, driven by fast fashion and overconsumption, contribute significantly to environmental pollution and human health risks. Functional finishes often contain toxic substances that leach into aquatic systems. Laundering and abrasion release microplastic fibers (MPFs), commonly called microplastics, and anthropogenic microfibers (MFs) which degrade into nanoplastics (NPs) through mechanical stress, heat, and UV radiation. These particles bypass wastewater treatment and accumulate in human organs, including the liver, lungs, and brain. This review highlights the limitations of current waste management systems, the role of textile design in particle release, and the need for further research on airborne emissions and environmental interactions. Mitigating textile-derived plastic pollution will require biodegradable finishes, pre-consumer filtration systems, and circular consumption models supported by interdisciplinary collaboration. Full article

The nonwoven industry is undergoing significant changes, driven by rapid growth and sustainability concerns, with a growing need to shift from fossil-based polymers like polyester (PES) and polypropylene (PP) fibres to biodegradable, fossil-free materials. Compared to other cellulose-based fibres, lyocell (LY) is a promising solution due to its good mechanical performance and lower environmental impact. Additionally, cellulose acetate (CA) fibres, known for their thermoplastic and biodegradable properties, can act as a binder, offering another promising alternative to fossil-based fibres. This study explores the use of 100% LY fibres, alone and in blends with CA and recycled polyester (rPES) fibres, in the development of needle-punched nonwovens and assesses the mechanical benefits of adding a thermal bonding step. Among the blends, rPES-based nonwovens with thermal bonding showed the best results. 100% LY exhibited the best mechanical performance among needle-punched nonwovens, while rPES-based blends outperformed the others. Biodegradability and toxicity studies were also performed. 100% LY nonwovens fully biodegraded within 55 days, and 100% CA and 100% rPES showed no biodegradation. The findings revealed that the thermal process did not affect the disintegration level and, the germination of Brassica oleracea was not affected by soils in which the samples were buried for 75 days. Full article

The demand for healthcare and medical devices increases as the population ages. With the advance of textile science and technology, new products have been developed to replace the traditional ones, including biotextiles. This review has the objective of presenting biotextiles for biomedical applications, specifically drug delivery systems, medical implants, and regenerative medicine, showing the scientific progress in the respective fields, some relevant scientific studies, and commercially available products. The aim is to present to readers a quick overview guide for reference, including future trends and challenges. Full article

This paper concerns the study of the multidirectional drape and bending rigidity of clothing packages combined with three types of adhesive inserts. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of introducing seams of differentiated complexity to clothing packages consisting of cotton fabric and adhesive inserts. The adhesive inserts were differentiated according to their mass per square meter. Three kinds of seams differing by the number of bent and sewn layers were introduced into packages, and two techniques of bonding, differentiated by the sequence of operations, were applied. The results of the influence of bonding technique on the bending rigidity and multidirectional drape for packages with seams and those without them are discussed. All of the tests carried out were aimed at answering the question of how seam introduction and its complexity (the number of sewn layers) influence the bending rigidity and drapeability of clothing packages in order to facilitate clothing technologists in the proper selection of appropriate adhesive inserts for the engineered design of clothing products. Full article

This review explores the evolving landscape of sustainable textile manufacturing, with a focus on rubber-based materials for various industrial applications. The textile and rubber industries are shifting towards eco-friendly practices, driven by environmental concerns and the need to reduce carbon footprints. The integration of sustainable textiles in rubber-based products, such as tires, conveyor belts, and defense products, is becoming increasingly prominent. This review discusses the adoption of natural fibers like flax, jute, and hemp, which offer biodegradability and improved mechanical properties. Additionally, it highlights sustainable elastomer sources, including natural rubber from Hevea brasiliensis and alternative plants like Guayule and Russian dandelion, as well as bio-based synthetic rubbers derived from terpenes and biomass. The review also covers sustainable additives, such as silica fillers, nanoclay, and bio-based plasticizers, which enhance performance while reducing environmental impact. Textile–rubber composites offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional fiber-reinforced polymers when high flexibility and impact resistance are needed. Rubber matrices enhance fatigue life under cyclic loading, and sustainable textiles like jute can reduce environmental impact. The manufacturing process involves rubber preparation, composite assembly, consolidation/curing, and post-processing, with precise control over temperature and pressure during curing being critical. These composites are versatile and robust, finding applications in tires, conveyor belts, insulation, and more. The review also highlights the advantages of textile–rubber composites, innovative recycling and upcycling initiatives, addressing current challenges and outlining future perspectives for achieving a circular economy in the textile and rubber sectors. Full article

Humans are in constant contact with clothing and textiles throughout their lives, which can expose them to chemicals present in these materials. Chemicals used in fiber production and in material processing can be absorbed through the skin, ingested, or inhaled, causing allergic reactions. Advancements in modern textiles have made them more versatile and functional for a variety of applications, resulting in the use of more chemicals. Regarding the textile industry, several studies have focused on the environmental impact of its effluents and dyes, and, more recently, several studies have focused on textile waste impact in general. Nevertheless, few studies have been carried out on human cytotoxicity, and very little is known about the dangers of long-term use of textiles. The aim of this work was to review the literature to understand what has been done in the field of textile cytotoxicity. In addition, this work also highlights the existing gap regarding regulation and standardized tests for the analysis of everyday clothing. There is an urgent need to establish regulations and standardize testing protocols to assess the potential cytotoxic effects that may arise from finished textile products before they are marketed, in order to guarantee consumer safety. Full article

Sewing needle heating is a common problem for the sewing of technical and medical textiles. The hot needle causes burnt spots on fabric, breakage of the thread, and weak seam strength. Multiple ways are used in industry to cool the needle including compressed air, thread lubrication, and needle coatings. The most economical way of reducing needle heat is to use thread lubrication. This technique needs a lot of research because the bucket of lubrication installed on the sewing machine provides irregular amounts of the micro layer on the thread and there is no research showing how much should be used. In this research, different amounts of pre-lubricated threads are used to measure their impact on coefficient of friction, tensile strength, needle temperature, and overall performance of the seam depending on lubrication amount. The research work is focused on the disadvantages of irregular lubrication and finding optimized lubricant amount for better sewing performance with low needle temperature. Full article

A significant development has been the integration of natural elements with bio-based materials to produce entirely bio-based functional textiles. In this investigation, lycopene, derived from tomatoes, is used as a new natural red dye for silk. A suitable solvent was selected to precisely measure the lycopene content in silk. The stability of lycopene in a simulated dye bath was examined in relation to heating duration and pH values. Central composite design was employed to evaluate the impact of dyeing conditions on the color intensity of silk. The results showed that lycopene dissolves more efficiently in dichloromethane than in water or ethanol. UV–Vis absorption spectra, which remained nearly constant, indicate that lycopene retains its stability after being heated at 90 °C for 60 min or when the pH is between 3.2 and 6.2. Higher temperatures lead to increased lycopene adsorption, thereby enhancing color intensity. Based on the ANOVA analysis from the central composite design experiment, the most influential factor affecting color intensity is the concentration of lycopene, followed by temperature, and then pH. As the lycopene concentration increases, the color intensity and saturation of the dyed silk also increase. Although the lycopene-dyed silk shows good wash fastness, there is room for improvement in rub fastness. In summary, this study confirms the potential of using lycopene as a new natural red dye for silk. Full article

Smart textiles are an evolving field, but challenges in durability, washing, interfacing, and sustainability persist. Widespread adoption requires robust, lightweight, fully integrated fiber-based conductors. This paper proposes using ultralong carbon nanotube (UCNT) yarns with a width-to-length ratio of several orders of magnitude larger than typical carbon nanotube fibers. These yarns enable the manufacturing of stable, workable structures, composed of a network of twisted fibers (tows), which are suitable for fabric integration. Our research includes the creation of textile prototype demonstrators integrated with coated and non-coated UCNT yarns, tested under military-grade standards for both mechanical durability and electric functionality. The demonstrators were evaluated for their electrical and mechanical properties under washability, abrasion, and weathering. Notably, polymer-coated UCNT yarns demonstrated improved mechanical durability and electrical performance, showing promising results. However, washing tests revealed the presence of UCNT nanofibers in the residue, raising concerns due to their classification as hazards by the World Health Organization. This paper examines the sources of fiber release and discusses necessary improvements to coating formulations and testing protocols to mitigate fiber loss and enhance their practical viability. These findings underscore both the potential and limitations of UCNT yarns in military textile applications. Full article

The cornerstone of textile manufacturing lies in quality control, with the early detection of defects being crucial to ensuring product quality and sustaining a competitive edge. Traditional inspection methods, which predominantly depend on manual processes, are limited by human error and scalability challenges. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI)—encompassing computer vision, image processing, and machine learning—have transformed defect detection, delivering improved accuracy, speed, and reliability. This article critically examines the evolution of defect detection methods in the textile industry, transitioning from traditional manual inspections to AI-driven automated systems. It delves into the types of defects occurring at various production stages, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of conventional and automated approaches, and underscores the pivotal role of deep learning models, especially Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), in achieving high precision in defect identification. Additionally, the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as high-resolution cameras and real-time monitoring systems, into quality control processes is explored, highlighting their contributions to sustainability and cost-effectiveness. By addressing the challenges and opportunities these advancements present, this study serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers and industry professionals seeking to harness AI in optimizing textile production and quality assurance amidst the ongoing digital transformation. Full article