The large surface area, and ability to retain moisture of textile structures enable microorganisms’ growth, which causes a range of undesirable effects, not only on the textile itself, but also on the user. Moreover, textiles used in health care environments are required to possess antimicrobial property to minimize spread of pathogenic infection. Anti-microbial property can be imparted via chemical finishing with an antimicrobial agent. Currently the use of antimicrobial agents includes metal compounds (notably copper and silver particle), chitosan, halogenated phenols “triclosan”, quaternary ammonium compounds, antibiotics (a class of antimicrobials produced from microorganisms that act against one another), and N-halamines. The possibility of bacterial resistance limits antibiotic use to specific medical applications, and triclosan is known for being dangerous to the environment and is currently under scrutiny for possible endocrine disrupting to human being. Although quaternary ammonium compounds are stable and easily manufactured, microbial resistance is also a concern. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB), chitosan and N-halamines are listed under bound or non-leaching type antimicrobials. The bulk of current chapter focuses on the different family of antimicrobial agents used for textiles and their mechanisms.
This paper demonstrates the feasibility of manufacturing a light and low cost near-net-shape vertebra from Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP) preforms. The TFP preforms were produced flat and sewn together at the ends by a classic sewing process. Low pressure Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) was used for the consolidation and impregnation of the preforms. The molding strategy was oriented towards the use of silicone conformers to ensure a compaction that well fits the preform despite its imperfections. The resulting part required a light finishing. The mass was reduced by 40% and the manufacturing cost by 76% compared to the original part.
As smart clothing is reaching a commercial level of maturity, the technology beyond bio-monitoring is being explored for other fields such as the automotive industry. In this case, the textile sensors integrated into a seat must remain contactless to allow for layer of clothing, seat cover, and such. The use of conductive textile materials is a key in creating an electromagnetic field which allow for contactless sensing. The data gathered by the bio-sensors can be used as prevention tool for detecting driver’s over-tiredness and stress or to monitor discomfort among passengers.
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