Smart Textiles

Chapter 10Characterization Methods of Nanotechnology-Based Smart Textiles

Mamatha M. Pillai¹, R. Senthilkumar², R. Selvakumar¹ and Amitava Bhattacharyya^2*

¹Tissue Engineering Laboratory, PSG Institute of Advanced Studies, Coimbatore, India

²Nanoscience and Technology, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India

*Corresponding author: [e-mail]

Abstract

Research and development towards nanotechnology-based smart textiles have become a new trend in the field of wearable nanotechnology. Nanoparticles or nanomaterials are incorporated into textiles to enhance the efficacy for different smart applications in biomedical (drug delivery, wound healing, health monitoring, scaffolds and implants, etc.), defence (composites, camouflage, UV resistant, stain removal, water proof, etc.), and other high-performance sectors. The main challenge in this field is the precise control of size, shape and distribution of nanomaterials anchored with the textile substrate. Hence, suitable and extensive characterization techniques are essential for successful implementation of smart textiles. This chapter highlights different characterization techniques used to study the performance enhancements in nanotechnology-based smart textiles. The basic principle and applications of various characterization techniques such as particle size analysis, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, etc. have been discussed in detail referring ...