The 20 Most Promising New Intelligent Textile Materials In 2019

Mankind has always been on the road of invention and innovation. The invention of new materials has greatly affected the future of products and their manufacturing processes.

Materials that will never dry, programmable cement, materials that make wrinkles disappear, and biomimetic plastics...

Who will be the most potential new material in 2019?

Xiaobian take you to see quickly!

1. Never dry material NEVERDRY

Breakthroughs: materials made of polymers and water can conduct electricity without drying.

Application: it can be used for making artificial skin and flexible robot with bionic function.

Main research institution (company): Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2. Programmable cement

Source: Rice University

Breakthrough: programming cement particles (a component in concrete) into a more solid shape.

It also produces concrete particles with less porosity and water resistance and chemical resistance, which not only prevents damage caused by chemical and water absorption, but also has little harm to the environment.

Applications: architecture, industry.

Main research institution (company): Rice University

3. Let wrinkles disappear.

Breakthrough: this fine and smooth polymer is applied to the skin, which can instantly tighten the skin and eliminate drooping.

Application area: it has good application prospect in skin care product development and dermatology treatment.

Main research institution (company): Massachusetts Institute of Technology

4. Unlimited recyclable plastic

Breakthrough: it can be recycled indefinitely, while maintaining the performance of plastics.

Application: substitute for existing plastics.

Main research institution (company): Colorado State University

5. Artificial spider silk

Breakthroughs: bacteria are fed sugar, salt and other micronutrients to produce silk protein, and then turn the protein into fine powder to make fibers, composite materials, etc.

Applications: textile materials, medical and aircraft manufacturing, and other fields.

The main research institutions are: Japan Spiber company, Brazil Institute of genetic resources and biotechnology, Bolt Threads of the United States, Research Institute of University of Cambridge, Kasetsart University, Sweden.

6. Bionic plastics

Source: Wyss Research Institute, Harvard University

Breakthroughs: the material is composed of chitin extracted from the discarded shrimp shell and silk fibroin derived from silk, replicating the strength, durability and versatile properties of insect epidermis.

Application: it can be used to produce rapidly degradable garbage bags, packaging materials and diapers.

As a particularly strong biocompatible material, it can also be used for suturing wounds with high loads, such as hernia repair or as a scaffold for tissue regeneration.

Main research institution (company): bionics engineering Wyss Research Institute, Harvard University

7. Wood sponge

Breakthroughs: Wood sponges separated from hemicellulose and lignin by chemical treatment can adsorb oil from water. The oil absorption can reach 16-46 times its own weight and can be reused for up to 10 times.

This new sponge surpasses all other sponge or adsorbents available in capacity, quality and reusability.

Application area: oil and chemical leaks have caused unprecedented damage to water bodies around the world. Wood sponge as a green material can solve this problem effectively.

Main research institutes (companies): China Academy of Forestry Sciences

8. High strength biomaterials

Breakthroughs: the material is made from cellulose nanofibers derived from wood and plant. The ultimate tensile modulus is 86GPa, tensile strength is 1.57 GPa, 8 times higher than spider silk strength, and biodegradable.

Application: used as an excellent substitute for plastics and other non degradable materials.

Main research institution (company): Stockholm KTH Royal Institute of Technology

9. Self healing (healing) materials

Breakthrough: self repairing material is a kind of intelligent material that can feel the changes of the external environment, integrate perception, drive and information processing, and simulate the damage and self repair mechanism of organism, which can repair itself when the material is damaged.

Applications: military equipment, electronic products, automobiles, aircraft, building materials and other fields.

The main research institutions (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), University of Illinois, Michelin, Japan National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS), Yokohama National University, University of Tokyo

10. Platinum alloy

Breakthrough: the alloy is made from 10% gold and 90% platinum, and the wear resistance of the alloy is 100 times higher than that of high strength steel.

It is at the same level as diamonds and sapphires in nature, and is the strongest alloy ever.

Application: it can be used for manufacturing new power generation systems, engines and other equipment.

Main research institution (company): Sandy Asia National Laboratory

11. Microgrid

Breakthroughs: microcrystalline material is the lightest metal structure in the world today, and its appearance is three-dimensional open cellular polymer structure.

The density of this material is 0.9mg/cm3, which is 100 times lighter than that of the foam.

Application area: aviation new material, Boeing plans to use this result to make lighter and more fuel efficient aircraft.

The main research institution (company):HRL Laboratory

12. Molecular super glue

Breakthrough: the protein released by Conghua's Streptococcus pneumoniae invading the cells is inspired by this protein, which is divided into two parts. But when they meet again, they will be glued together like glue. The glue made of these two parts of protein is called molecular superglue.

This adhesive has high bond strength, high temperature and low temperature resistance, and can withstand acid and other harsh environments, and can seal quickly.

Application: it can be used as a diagnostic tool for cancer. Molecular glue can bind metal, plastic and other substances, and solve the problem that all kinds of coatings are not well adhered to metal.

Main research institution (company): University of Oxford

13. Ultra thin platinum

Breakthroughs: a new method of rapid and cheap deposition of platinum ultra-thin layers, which reduces the amount of precious metals in fuel cell catalysts and greatly reduces their cost.

Application: hydrogen fuel cell.

Major research institutes (US): National Institute of standards and technology

14. Karta-Pack (cotton fiber)

Breakthroughs: 100% of recycled materials come from discarded jeans and T-shirts, both with cotton texture and plastic rigidity.

Applications: high-end packaging, furniture design, etc.

Main research institutions (companies):PulpWorks

15. Graphene aerogel

Photo source: Advanced Materials

Breakthrough: solid, elastic and light weight. It can absorb grease up to 900 times its weight.

Graphene aerogel density of 0.16 mg/cm3, lighter than helium, only two times the density of hydrogen.

Application area: clean up offshore oil leakage, or as a very effective thermal insulation material.

Main research institutions (companies): Zhejiang University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, etc.

16. Block glass coating for sunlight. Please input the title.

Breakthrough: the coating can adjust the pparency of the glass itself. When the ambient temperature is above 67 C, the pparent coating will become a reflective layer with metallic luster.

Application: architecture, pportation, etc.

Main research institution (company): Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Australia

17. Flexible battery

Breakthroughs: the flexible battery is made of fiber and has good bending properties. It can bend thousands of times without affecting its performance.

Applications: the perfect choice for smart clothing, electronic textiles, wearable devices and deformable mobile devices in the future.

The main research institutions (companies):Jenax Inc, apple, Panasonic, University of California at San Diego, Columbia University, etc.

18. Biodegradable textiles from biomass sources

Breakthrough: making biodegradable textiles from algae, bacteria, fungi, yeast and other living organisms, creating environmentally friendly materials, and freeing the garment industry from waste and pollution.

Application: clothing and textile.

Main research institute (company): New York Fashion Technology Institute, iknit company

19. Hard rock coating

Breakthroughs: iron based amorphous alloy coatings specially designed for industrial bits and cutters cost much less than conventional materials such as tungsten carbide and cobalt carbide. Their long service life improves the efficiency of tools.

Applications: industry, manufacturing, architecture and so on.

The main research institutes are Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Colorado Mining University, etc.

20. Fungal foam

Breakthroughs: mycelia produced by the combination of plant straw, rice and wheat husk with the roots of mushrooms.

Application: it is used as an oil based foam replacement for automobile bumper, door, top cover, engine compartment, automobile trunk liner, dashboard and seat.

Other potential uses include desktop, surfboard and clothing.

Main research institutions (companies):Ecovative design company