title: Development of textile-based high-tech products: the new challenge.
abstract: The new generation of smart textiles is represented by fibers, yarns, fabrics and other resulting products that have special properties, regarding mechanical, chemical, electrical and thermal performances. These high-tech products, being able to respond to external stimuli through the integration of electronic components, phase change materials, shape memory materials or nano materials, enabled the development of different active and functional products. These products when combining the functions of medium, carrier and interface for micro-systems applications represent the ideal connecting channel between humans and the environment. This is a field of innovation that broadened the scope of the traditional textile and apparel products to high-tech textiles, designed to meet specific needs, involving different technologies and produced according to required properties, like personal protection, safety, leisure or health wear. The development of smart wear is a new challenge for the textile and clothing industry: it has to develop products based not only on design, fashion and comfort concepts but also in terms of functions. Moreover these products must be easy to care and durable.
authors.affiliation: University of Minho- Dep. of Textile Engineering, Campus de Azurém- 4800-058 Guimarães-Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Maria M F
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: da Rocha
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003020:Clothing; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004559:Electric Wiring; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology; D013784:Textiles