No abstract

Stimuli-responsive polymers (SRPs) are smart materials which can show noticeable changes in their properties with environmental stimulus variations. Novel functionalities can be delivered to textiles by integrating smart SRPs into them. SRPs inclusive of thermal-responsive polymers, moisture-responsive polymers, thermal-responsive hydrogels, pH-responsive hydrogels, and light-responsive polymers have been applied in textiles to improve or achieve textile smart functionalities. The functionalities include aesthetic appeal, comfort, textile soft display, smart controlled drug release, fantasy design with color changing, wound monitoring, smart wetting properties and protection against extreme variations in environmental conditions. In this review, the applications of SRPs in the textile and clothing sector are elucidated; the associated constraints in fabrication processes for textiles and their potential applications in the near future are discussed.

Stimulus-active polymers can vary their shapes (configuration or dimension) or produce mechanical power in response to external stimuli such as heat, electricity, light, magnetic field, and water. In the past decade, many breakthroughs have been made in developing stimulus-active polymers with novel stimulus-active mechanisms. With proper designing, complicated movements such as swimming, inchworm walking, rotation, and bending can be achieved. Stimulus-active polymers can be applied in a wide range of areas from hi-tech areas to daily life. A few papers have been written on specific type of stimulus-active polymers, but have not covered all stimulus-active polymers. Hence, this article aims to present a brief overview of the different mechanisms and fabrication strategies of typical stimulus-active polymers. The various applications of different stimulus-active polymers are also briefly summarized in the article.