Workshop on Smart Textile Applications February 1, 2012 Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta, GA Agenda
1. Opening Remarks – Pat Picariello & Jennifer Rogers, ASTM International (8:30 – 8:35) 2. Measurement of Electrical Properties of Conductive Textiles – Amol Patil & Smita Deogaonkar, Bombay Textile Research Association (8:35 – 9:05) 3. Going from Bedside to Bench to Bedside: Using Translational Research in the Development of Active Barrier Protective Apparel for Healthcare Applications - Ben Favret, Matthew Hardwick, and Thomas J. Walsh, Vestagen Technical Textiles, LLC (9:05 – 9:35) 4. Potential Standards Development in Retro-Reflective Fabric and High Visibility Safety Clothing, Tom King, IHVCA (9:35 – 10:05) 5. Challenges in Characterizing Benefits and Risks of Nanomaterials to Humans and Ecological Receptors, Larry Kaputska, PhD (10:05 – 10:35) 6. Intelligent Textiles: Innovating with CTT Group, Aldjia Begriche, CTT Group (10:35 – 11:05) 7. Military Nonwoven Fabric Project Review, Stephen Szczesuil, US Army (11:05 – 11:35) 8. Questions & Answers – All (11:35 – 11:55) 9. Closing Remarks – Pat Picariello, ASTM International
Poster session will be concurrent with workshop.
ABSTRACTS
Measurement of Electrical Properties of Conductive Textiles Amol J Patil & Smita C Deogaonkar The Bombay Textile Research Association, L.B.S. Marg, Ghatkopar (W), Mumbai -400086, Maharashtra, India Electrically conductive textiles play an important role in application areas such as static and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, microwave attenuation, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding resistive heat generating textiles. The advent of electronic textiles/smart textiles has further reinforced the role of conductive textiles as they play an important role realizing functions such as data storage, transmission and communication. The research work on imparting electrical conductivity to textiles has been primarily focused on the use of
metal based technologies as well as
novel functional materials such as intrinsically conductive polymers (ICP). The electrical conductivity of textile fabrics has been predominantly expressed in terms of bulk conductivity and surface resistivity. For bulk conductivity, a four point probe method (Valdes method) is generally adopted. However, there has not been a standard textile specific method for this approach. Further, for surface resistivity measurement of textile fabrics, AATCC-76:05 has been mostly followed by researchers. However, the method doesn’t specify the important
measurement
aspects
such
as
specimen
size,
electrode
dimensions and the load to be applied on the electrodes. This leads to a state where researchers prefer their own settings for fixing the above mentioned parameters. Moreover, the method predominantly deals with the high resistivity measurement. Whereas, the low resistivity segment (ie. highly conductive textile substrates) is equally important in applications such as EMI shielding and resistive heat generation.
The work carried out at BTRA, involves incorporation of ICPs into textile fabric by in-situ polymerization. Polypyrrole and polyaniline- two most important ICPs- were synthesized on cotton substrates through chemical polymerization. The electrical conductivity of the coated fabrics was expressed in terms of electrical surface resistivity by using AATCC-76 method. The surface resistivity of the fabrics ranges from 15- 10000 ohm/square. The combination of the ICP coated cotton fabrics and electronic circuitry was employed to design a prototype of “smart textile mat” for intruder detection. Resistive heating pads were developed from the ICP coated fabrics. Such pads can be incorporated into jacket for providing warmth to the wearer maintaining a temperature of 40 -42 oC. The introduction of a standard method for the measurement of electrical conductivity of fabrics as well as fibre, and yarns has to be considered as an indispensible part in designing of standards for Smart Textiles.
Going from Bedside to Bench to Bedside: Using Translational Research in the Development of Active Barrier Protective Apparel for Healthcare Applications Ben Favret, Matthew Hardwick, and Thomas J. Walsh Microbiological contamination on the clothing of healthcare workers, patients and the community has been well studied and extensively reported in both the medical literature and lay press as an increasingly recognized source for acquisition and transmission of medically important bacterial pathogens. The Institute of Medicine, Society of Healthcare Epidemiology and International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene have put forward guidance using evidencebased structured design models to address this problem. Guided by these models, our research team implemented a translational research model focused in two areas: 1. Applying discoveries generated through applied laboratory research of apparel technologies and preclinical studies to the development of clinical trials and observational studies of healthcare workers wearing Active Barrier Protective Apparel 2. Research aimed at enhancing the adoption of Active Barrier Protective Apparel and best practices for use in the community. An extensive literature review was conducted to first gain an in-depth understanding the problem of contaminated apparel in healthcare settings as well as the tasks performed and conditions encountered during patient care. This research defined the role of healthcare worker apparel in the chain of infectious transmission. From this research we developed design-performance conditions and tested multiple solutions in laboratory settings intended to simulate the real world environments in which healthcare worker apparel to acquire, retain and can transmit infectious organisms. Once we found the proper balance of the required performance properties we conducted clinical testing in a medical intensive care unit to document the effectiveness and safety of the design. Business model case research was also conducted to assess the potential cost benefit and cost effectiveness for adoption of Active Barrier Protective Apparel. The use of this translational research evidence-based structured design model has resulted in increased protection and comfort combined with the reduced microbiologic burden of Active Barrier Protective Apparel. Active Barrier Protective Apparel serves as an Engineering Control for Healthcare Workers, patients and community members who are exposed to or are at high risk of contamination and or infection.
References: • Elam K, Nair S, Krishnan SU, Walsh TJ. Barrier Protective Properties of Nanoparticle Treated Textiles as a Tool for Infection Control in the Health Care Setting SHEA Poster 521 • Hardwick MJ, Minyard MB, Shoham S, Walsh TJ. Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) to Semeltec and VTT003, SHEA Poster 184 • Mathers AJ, Donowitz GR. Bactericidal Effect of Antimicrobial-Treated Textiles on Multi-drug Resistant Gram Negatives, ICAAC Poster K-1461 • Bearman GML, Rosato A, Elam K, Sanogo K, Stevens MP, Wenzel RP. Cross-Over Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Antimicrobial Surgical Scrubs, SHEA Poster 520 • Elam K, Walsh TJ, Assessing the Safety of Antimicrobial Textiles to be Worn by Health Care Workers, Emergency Nurses Association 2011 Poster
High visibility safety clothing must be specified and designed to be visible by various drivers in different sizes of vehicles at Critical Detection Distance to avoid accidents. Regardless the color of the clothing people are wearing, workers, roadside runners, and cyclists are not easily detectable at the critical detection distance in front of a car headlights in the dawn or after dark except wearing clothing with reflective function. For ensuring the high visibility clothing functions properly, the below criteria are discussed: 1. Retroreflection: The retroreflective material must be detectable by drivers, tall or short, sitting in various sizes of vehicles, in terms of the level of conspicuity in photometric measurements. 2. Critical Detection Distance: Determining the critical detection distance, where the driver must able to see the conspicuity of pedestrians or bikers to avoid an accident. 3. Reflective Area: The required minimum area with visible reflective fabrics or materials applied to the high visibility safety clothing is computed. 4. Classification: Considering the circumstances, location, traffic pattern, and activities of the end users, several classes of the high visibility safety clothing are suggested for identifiable designs. 5. Certification: A way of certifying the high visibility clothing with safety effect is suggested. 6. Labeling: End user shall be informed about the safety effect that they can choose the high visibility clothing of their need. A proposed High Visibility Safety Clothing Standard and Test Method are introduced.
Challenges in Characterizing Benefits and Risks of Nanomaterials to Humans and Ecological Receptors Larry Kapustka, Ph.D. SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., 134-12143 40th Street SE, Calgary, Alberta T2Z 4E6 Engineered nanomaterials are designed to convey unique properties that can be put to beneficial uses. The burst of activity in the past decade has produced many promising materials that could bring about quantum shifts in many related technologies and in the delivery of many goods and services to society, including those being developed for smart clothing. Whereas it is exciting to contemplate the technological advances, we know from history that cooccurrences a.k.a. unintended consequences often accompany technology. These can include environmental effects associated along any portion of the product life-cycle. Additional considerations may emerge during the use of smart clothing, for example if emergency response personnel rely too extensively on the technology and become complacent about associated hazards. Whereas there has been considerable investment in development of the nanotech industry, relatively little effort has been devoted to characterizing the suite of risks or to establishing regulatory guidelines. The framework for environmental risk assessment provides a useful approach to sort through relevant information at any stage along the product life-cycle. A holistic approach to address potential concerns pertaining to this emerging technology can provide useful insights that could guide improvement of products while avoiding or mitigating risks. Far from being an impediment to the industry, such information could accelerate realization of the benefits from these materials. ASTM-International can play an important role in the development of forward-looking standards for this industry.
Intelligent Textiles: Innovating with CTT Group
The best sensor will definitely be the human! It is able to feel, react and adapt to changing circumstances. Why not assign these functions to textiles in our environment? The result of a combination of several skills, intelligent textiles is often defined as structures capable of reacting, adjusting themselves to external demands, and communicating with its environment. In order to functionalize these textile structures, they can be coupled to electronic components, chemical components or materials provided with particular properties. First generation intelligent textiles have these elements integrated after manufacture and are already on the market. CTT Group's research involves second and third generation textiles, whose elements are integrated during manufacture. These products are currently arriving on the market. Our research group is focussing on: Integrating functions as closely as possible during manufacture and reducing the number of steps in manufacture. There are numerous applications for these textile structures in particular: sports and leisure, but also for the medical community, the military, transportation, and construction...Discover how CTT Group entered smart textiles four years ago! Which will constitute textiles for tomorrow?
Military Nonwoven Fabric Project Review The United States Marine Corps has taken the initiative to develop state-of-theart nonwoven composite fabric technology for use as alternate fabric application for Combat Utility Uniforms (CUU’s), equipage, shelters etc. This effort is being conducted via a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract. The objective of the SBIR is to utilize latest nonwoven technology to enhance performance and reduce lifecycle costs for combat type clothing. Concept includes development of lightweight composite material that offers high durability, high breaking and tearing strength, breathability, and cost reduction to replace current woven uniform material. Included is to design a Fire Retardant (FR) fabric and heavy-duty fabric for tentage and equipage applications. Nonwovens will be considered for disposable FR Medical, cook uniforms, Navy Shipboard uniforms along with Air Force and Coast Guard uses. Other applications include summary of Chemical Biological Nonwoven Uniforms, disposable parachutes and Combat Gloves.
