- Journal Details
- Format
- Journal
- eISSN
- 2300-0929
- First Published
- 19 Oct 2012
- Publication timeframe
- 4 times per year
- Languages
- English
In construction, textiles can be used either for reinforcing the structure or for finishing design. When we talk about function, the interior is no less important than the exterior and architecture of the building. Thus using textiles to reinforce the structure of buildings, textiles often perform a desired function of reinforcing the “finish.” Building textile materials include fibers that are mixed with concrete, fiberglass reinforcement meshes, insulators, etc. Textile architecture covers permanent tensile structures based on polyester or glass fiber fabrics, with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating and awnings generally supported by polyester or polyolefin fabrics, with or without coating, especially for gardening. All above topics are covered within this perspective with the experts from the group of smart textiles for building and living within COST Action CA17107 European Network to Connect Research and Innovation Efforts on Advanced Smart Textiles (CONTEXT) [
Keywords
- Smart textile
- building
- living
- acoustic
The European Green Rate Action Plan aims to reduce the energy sector's dependence on fossil fuels in a targeted way, currently by >75%. The EU's CO2 emissions come from energy production and its use, and European industry uses only 12% of its -recycled materials. In addition, as much as 40% Energy is used in buildings – most buildings in the EU are energy inefficient [1]. Both civil engineering and building industry are integral parts of the development of human society as they involve the planning, design, building, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure. The venturing of technical textiles or high-performance textiles in this sector has given a great impetus to the quality of construction [2].
Nature is an amazing source of inspiration for the design of thermal insulation strategies too, which are key for saving energy. In nature, thermal insulation structures, such as penguin feather and polar bear hair, are well developed; enabling the animals’ survival in frigid waters. Thermal insulation is a great solution to reduce energy consumption by preventing heat gain or loss through the building envelope. Any reduction of unwanted temperature changes is decreasing the energy demand of heating and cooling systems. Incorporation of thermal insulation of every element under the thermal envelope such as walls, roofs, and floors or water heaters improves the thermal comfort at homes,
In the building and living sectors, one of the main concepts that is being explored is the zero-energy building, which is based on the improvement of materials used, construction methods, and architectural design. In this scope the use of textile based materials, such as composite structures, can contribute in both the reduction of the amount of raw materials used and the reduction of energy consumption and this can be seen as a determinant factor to achieve this goal [3].
In particular, buildings should be technically innovative, safe, and durable. In architecture, textiles can be used in both exterior and interior design. Today's architectural challenges are to create exceptional buildings that are not only admirable for their exterior appearance but also function in an innovative and purposeful way, and most importantly, should meet the public requirements. An architect always faces the challenge of creating a whole from many different functions, shapes, materials, and sizes. Textiles offer variety in terms of material choice and the possibility of forms. Textiles play an important role in the interior spaces and daily activities of people, both functionally and esthetically. Textile materials are multi-materials (fibers or filaments making yarns, making woven, nonwoven, knitted, braided materials, making complexes, making products), with specific intrinsic property will be especially useful for all the application sectors: conformability. Mostly, textile is used in constructions; it is used for interior decoration of walls and this is utilized for both interior reinforcement and design. Rare fabrics or nets are used for reinforcing plaster, and fabrics can be glued onto pre-existing plaster and then sealed. This strengthens the interior finish of the wall—–small cracks in the wall are not detectable from the outside. Fiberglass fabrics are often used for this purpose. Fabrics are also used for wall decoration and, in this case, are not hidden under another layer of construction material. Such wallpaper fabrics can be dyed, but the fabric structure still remains visible. Textile for building and living sectors provides many interesting technological solutions [4, 5].
Acoustics are also important in both public and residential spaces, especially in open-plan spaces where there is more noise. According to the World Green Building Council, noise can reduce employee productivity by 66% [6]. Acoustics can be improved with special finishing materials as well as with partitions that have good acoustic properties. “Acoustic comfort” increases work efficiency and improves the quality of rest (during breaks from work), so sound-absorbing materials are necessary in various public spaces.
Textiles for building with advanced functionalities:
Photocatalytic action of materials/textiles to reduce pollutants (indoor/outdoor), antibacterial effect of titanium dioxide, combine fabrics made of optical fibers with applications in filtering/depolluting systems. Use of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a novel material for building applications, with new properties for textile structures (UV protection); use of piezoelectrical properties of PVDF in innovative energy production systems [7]; extrusion of PVDF filled with nanoparticles to enhance its performance [8]. Self-regulating systems.
With the arrival of composites, easily transformable spaces allow us to change the functions of the premises (Figure 1). Acoustic panels made from textile waste reduce and divert sound, thus eliminating echo. Acoustic partitions made from recycled textile and plastic waste are lightweight, improve sound quality indoors, and can be easily moved from one place to another.
Figure 1
The polymer based textile and examples (a) showing the composite with dust and polylactic acid (PLA), (b) textile waste with PLA, and (c) Composite with nonwoven material from textile and PP waste.
Textiles are also used in the production of building structures.
Concrete's ongoing popularity for developing new modern infrastructure all over the globe is due to its high compressive strength, durability, and low cost. However, the main drawbacks of concrete, when used in construction, are its brittleness and unreliable tensile strength. In the 1970s textile materials emerged as an alternative solution to steel bars for concrete reinforcement [9]. Textile reinforced concrete does not require an additional concrete protective layer since the material itself is not prone to corrosion, unlike steel. This results in a significant reduction of material usage and cost. Textiles made of metallic, ceramic, synthetic polymers, inorganic or natural fibers have been considered for this purpose. By mixing various textile materials into concrete, it is possible to change the properties of the resulting material, such as stiffness, flexibility, etc. [10]. For example, when added to concrete, para-aramid fibers significantly increase their flexural strength [11]. Textile structures are the next generation of architecture. This property means comfort for ability to reach 3D shapes with good mechanical properties for the composites industry, high thermal performance and an ability to adapt to external conditions with an outstanding and inclusive design for building and architecture sector.
Bioinspired materials are also used as thermal insulation materials in living and building sectors. Many animals and plants know how to preserve and store thermal energy. The thermal insulation properties are bioinspired by feather, hair, fur, or wool [12,13,14,15], which are all keratin-based materials. Keratin is one of the most studied structural proteins, and it is an important building block found in many natural materials, which display unique material properties. Most keratin-based materials are porous [16], which is a key construction strategy for lightweight materials with high mechanical strength. Feather is one of the most common light and aerodynamic structures that has been widely studied in terms of its mechanical properties [17, 18], super-hydrophobicity [19], and other properties such as acoustic attenuation [20]. For many animals, keeping a constant body temperature is the key to survival, which is achieved by covering the body with naturally porous insulating materials, see examples in Figure 2.
Figure 2
The examples of natural thermally insulating materials:
Penguin feather and polar bear hair prevent the penetration of cold seawater to the skin and play an insulating role. Both materials, penguin feather and polar bear hair, are keratin based but with different molecular arrangements. Hair is usually composed of alpha-keratin, with coiled-coil molecular structure whereas feathers are built out of beta-keratin sheets [21]. Although these structures are different, their microstructures have many similarities such as interconnected porosity [22], which indicates the importance of porosity in adaptive thermal insulation, see Figure 3. One of the best examples is polar bear hair in which the porosity of hair helps them to convert sunlight energy into thermal energy through a photothermal conversion process [23]. The polar bear was the bioinspiration for synthetic materials with excellent UV absorption properties [15].
Figure 3
Cross-sectional scanning electron micrographs of (a) penguin feather and (b) polar bear hair.
The use of textiles in the construction sector allows for a fast and high quality construction process, as the majority of building components are manufactured in factories and assembled on site. Reducing the number of construction processes carried out in site ensures faster construction and high quality [24].
Various materials are used for the facades of modern buildings—–even textiles. Textile facades are popular all over the world because they are durable and resistant to UV rays and temperature fluctuations. In summer, a polymer-coated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) textile facade can protect a building from overheating. A new era in construction began when textiles were used to decorate the facades of buildings. The facade covered with a dedicated textile has been found to protect the building from overheating in the summer by block 30% of light, and further saves energy, suppresses the city noise, and provides privacy to those in the building [25]. This material can be used to cover windows, unattractive places in the building, to create new spaces and shapes, to give the building bright colors. The material can be printed on, and in the event of a change in the owner or user of the building, the material can be easily replaced with more appropriate color and by exchanging the advertising signs and adapting to the corporate marketing vision. Textile facades are valued for their ease and quick installation. Because they weigh little, they do not require complex and expensive engineering solutions and, most importantly, such facades do not restrict the creativity of architects. After all, you can even print on the material. In addition, it is easy to change the color or patterns of such a facade. Concerning the building and living sectors, one of the main concepts that is being explored is the zero energy building, based on the improvement of materials used, construction methods and architectural design. In this scope the use of textile-based materials, such as composite structures, can contribute to both the reduction of the amount of raw materials and energy consumption. Facade textiles can be recycled by the manufacturer, and it is easy and quick to install. Due to its low weight, this textile does not require complex and extremely expensive engineering solutions. The mounting system is based on a patented, unique construction of aluminum profiles, consisting of dozens of different details to result.
The use of textiles in architecture has drawn immense attention and changed public opinion, leading to the abandonment of stereotypes, as they are in fact environmentally friendly, resistant to climate change, and are durable, long-lasting and prevent the spread of fire.
The main outcomes are: Create materials easy to incorporate with existing materials applied in building industry; Develop a light sensing structure based on polymeric fibers/fabric; Use of PVDF for buildings with new properties – producing energy; Textile waste—for the new textile structure, testing it for mechanical properties, SEM microstructure—develop a new product; Possible applications in buildings and urban environment to improve air quality; Introduction of multifunctionality, for example piezoelectric or UV resistant properties in the components, and in the process to develop fabric for construction; Composite model of waste with no chemical added.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Apparel Industry in the EU–China Exports and Circular Economy Automatic Identification Of Wrist Position In A Virtual Environment For Garment Design Pressure Evaluation Of Seamless Yoga Leggings Designed With Partition Structure Experimental and Modelling Studies on Thermal Insulation and Sound Absorption Properties of Cross-Laid Nonwoven Fabrics Tensile Properties Analysis Of 3D Flat-Knitted Inlay Fabric Reinforced Composites Using Acoustic Emission Optimization of Sodium Lignosulfonate Treatment on Nylon Fabric Using Box–Behnken Response Surface Design for UV Protection From Raw To Finished Cotton—Characterization By Interface Phenomena A Study on the Woven Construction of Fabric Dyed With Natural Indigo Dye and Finishing for Applying to Product Design for Home Textile Products A Calculation Method for the Deformation Behavior of Warp-Knitted Fabric Nondestructive Test Technology Research for Yarn Linear Density Unevenness Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Airflow in the 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Tip Shapes During Puncture of Carbon Fiber Fabric Approach to Performance Rating of Retroreflective Textile Material Considering Production Technology and Reflector Size Influence of Multilayer Interlocked Fabrics Structure on their Thermal Performance Prediction of Standard Time of the Sewing Process using a Support Vector Machine with Particle Swarm Optimization Design Method of Circular Weft-Knitted Jacquard Fabric Based on Jacquard Module Image Analysis as a Method of the Assessment of Yarn for Making Flat Textile Fabrics Investigation of Heat Transfer in Seersucker Woven Fabrics using Thermographic Method Transformable Warning Clothing for Children with Active Light Sources Regenerated Cellulose/Graphene Composite Fibers with Electroconductive Properties High-Performance Workwear for Coal Miners in Northern China: Design and Performance Evaluation Comfort-Related Properties of Double-Layered Woven Car Seat Fabrics Experimental Investigation of the Wettability of Protective Glove 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