if it is inanimate it can't work.

SMART TEXTILES? AS IF THEY ARE ANIMATE!

This morning the following article came to me in “Sportstextiles” on line magazine. I guess graphite is the next best thing to sliced white bread.

Graphene could help make smart textiles even smarter

Researchers at University of Exeter in the UK believe graphene, widely accepted as being the thinnest material on earth, could hold the key to the creation of affordable, durable and mass-produced smart textiles.

The one company making jackets from graphene infused fiber sells them for $695.00; is that affordable?

A team at the university’s engineering department have developed a new technique to create electronic fibres that can be incorporated into the production of everyday clothing.

But does every day clothing need to be electrified?

The researchers weave graphene-based fibres directly into the fabric, eliminating the need for additional materials like electrodes or wires. They have said this compares favourably with current methods which see the creation of wearable electronics by essentially gluing devices to fabrics. This can mean they are too rigid and susceptible to malfunctioning.

The graphene is by itself not a fiber so it has to be included in the chemicals that are extruded to make fibers. Just like it being included in the chemicals that make polyurethane as was discussed in yesterday’s article. I guess even though it is encased it still can have its electric functions function.

The technique allows for the creation of touch-sensor and light-emitting devices. Other potential applications for the technology include health monitoring, such as heart rates and blood pressure, and medical diagnostics.

Professor Monica Craciun, co-author of the research and leader of the project, said: “For truly wearable electronic devices to be achieved, it is vital that the components are able to be incorporated within the material, and not simply added to it.”

For her part, Dr Ana Neves, co-author and also from the University of Exeter’s engineering department, added: “The key to this new technique is that the textile fibres are flexible, comfortable and light, while being durable enough to cope with the demands of modern life.”

Are modern day demands such as going to the grocery store very demanding, etc.

The international research project included experts from the Centre for Graphene Science at the University of Exeter, the Universities of Aveiro and Lisbon in Portugal, and CenTexBel in Belgium. Their findings have been published in scientific journal ‘Flexible Electronics’.

These publications always need something to write about even if it is nonsensical and without value.

NOW FOR IN MY OPINION THE LATEST SCAM

How about medications delivered to the human body when in contact with a fabric that has the medication infused with into the fiber that makes up the fabric?

There is a company that I never heard of prior to reading about it in the Non./Dec. issue of Textile World magazine. The company is Textile-Based Delivery Inc. or TexDel for short.

The CEO and founder Jordan Schindler (JS) had acne when he was in college and came up with the idea based upon his dermatologists comment that dirty pillow cases were a leading cause of blemishes. Armed with this information JS developed the technology to infuse the fabric with the active ingredients including lavender, lemon balm and wintergreen oil that could be released in a controlled manner. It is trade named Nufabrx. He had a second revelation based upon his grandfather’s affliction of Alzheimer’s. Seems his grandfather at the time did not know him but did know to put his socks on each day. It appears that as often happens people afflicted with Alzheimer’s do not necessarily remember to take their medication so he created a sock that has the medication infused in it, with a “controlled ingredient delivery system”.

This sounds very good except how the medication is infused into the material? To answer this question I looked for a telephone number to call them, one does not exist that is published as far as I could find. How is the proper amount of medication controlled in its release into the body of the person needing the medication? Does the material have to actually touch the skin directly as would be the case with the pillow case and the socks, but they are interested in expanding the different medications taken by people? JS says they can “tailor the content and delivery rates specifically to the customer’s needs”.

According to JS “test results have shown that our products delivery can be the same measured therapeutic doses as creams or pills in a predictable and controlled manner”.

Now for the real aspect of this company to keep in mind; I quote from the article; “TexDel intends to follow a strategy similar to that employed effectively by (the one and only) W.L. Gore with its Gore-Tex technology by focusing on creating the technology then licensing the product and brand to approved manufactures.”

Following the lead of the gore company has been a practice of so many companies it is amazing to me. Gore has presented a lied about product and because they have successfully sold it every company in or entering into the outdoor industry is working at mimicking them.

TexDel has an idea that will never work because when you encapsulate the medication within the polyester or nylon formula and then extrude it and chop it into fibers small enough to spin into yard how can the medication come out of the miniscule fibers? As far as I am concerned it can’t. But this company has been granted one million bucks to and I quote from MIT; “to accelerate the development of medicine delivering fabrics for consumer and Department of Defense applications”. So the reality is it doesn’t exist at this time versus the way the article is written that it not only does exist but is in use to get rid of acne and give Alzheimer patients their medication via their socks.

What will come next; the kings clothing? It is wonderful; keeps you warm in winter; cool in summer; just right in the spring and fall; never has any odor; never absorbs water; never gets stretched out of shape; never need washing; never wears out; and no fibers ever come off of it so it has no environmental footprint; could it get any better than that? Of course not!!! By the way inanimate object can neither be smart or stupid; fabric is inanimate!!!