AsianScientist (Oct. 25, 2016) – Researchers have in Australia have developed a smart textile from carbon nanotube and spandex fibres that can both sense and move in response to a stimulus, just like a human muscle or joint. The work was published in ACS Nano.
Lead researcher Dr. Javad Foroughi from the ARC Center of Excellence for Electromaterials Science noted that previous research has led to the development of intelligent materials as sensors, such as in a knee sleeve that can be used to monitor the movement of the joint. Such devices provide valuable data that can be used to create personalized training or rehabilitation programs for patients.
“Our recent work allowed us to develop smart clothing that simultaneously monitors the wearer’s movements, senses strain, and adjusts the garment to support or correct the movement,” Foroughi said.
The smart textile, which is easily scalable for the fabrication of industrial quantities, generates a mechanical work capacity and a power output which higher than that produced by human muscles. It has many potential applications ranging from smart textiles to robotics and sensors for lab-on-a-chip devices.
The article can be found at: Foroughi et al. (2016) Knitted Carbon-Nanotube-Sheath/Spandex-Core Elastomeric Yarns for Artificial Muscles and Strain Sensing.
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Source: University of Wollongong.
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