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Abstract. Over last ten years, we have carried out extensive research on the use of thin NiTi wires for advanced functional textiles. In this work we discuss general challenges and opportunities in the design, production and processing of NiTi textiles stemming from the fact that NiTi is martensitically transforming metal. As a case example, application of weft knitting technology to NiTi wires is discussed in detail covering technological aspects related to textile processing, shape setting as well as multiaxial thermomechanical properties of final products. Finally, two weft knitted NiTi textile proof-of-concepts with a promising application potential are presented. First, a textile based actuator with large strokes and low forces characteristics is introduced. Second, 3D textiles with temperature-adaptive cross-section height for applications in technical or protective textiles are described.

We report on a particular direction of currently conducted extended research on novel textiles with integrated thin metallic filaments made of an intermetallic shape memory NiTi alloy exhibiting functional behaviour such as superelastic deformation up to 10% and a thermally induced shape memory effect. Within this research direction we focus on development of single and multi-layered warp-knitted fabrics that are directionally reinforced with superelastic NiTi filaments. First, we describe the expected properties of such novel structures and their potential applications. Second, we present the functional thermomechanical behaviour of applied superelastic NiTi filaments. Third, we address questions related to the design and fabrication of warp-knitted fabrics with integrated NiTi filaments. Then, we describe experimental methods applied on novel functional textiles in order to evaluate their functional properties. Finally, we present and discuss results of experiments carried out on these novel functional textiles.

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