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April 21, 2015
Materials Science Enables New “Smart” Textiles
It is easy to see why wearable electronics have been
capturing headlines recently. The wearable electronics
industry is pushing both sides to channel their best
technologies and designs into compelling new products often
referred to as smart clothing.
More info...
Selecting a Textile Testing Lab Part VII
Customer Service
This series addresses some of the important factors to consider in selecting a textile testing
lab. Look for more articles in the “Selecting a Textile Lab” series Lab
Affiliation, Proficiency, Specialized Services, Calibration, Test Method Development,
and Continuing Education.
More info...
Student Chapter Awards
AATCC presents Student
Chapter Awards to seniors
from our Student Chapters,
in recognition of their
academic achievement and
contributions to the chapter,
school, or society.
More info...
Textile Trivia
Test your wits against other
AATCC members in our
Textile Trivia game. Answer
correctly by April 30 to be
entered for a drawing for an
Amazon Gift Card.
More info...
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AATCC News
Sponsorship Opportunity
AATCC is sponsoring a
Sustainability Symposium
with Zhejiang Sci-Tech
University in Hangzhou,
China. Check out
opportunities to promote
your company’s products.
More info...
For complete list and updates, visit the AATCC Events page
April 23, 2015
11:00 AM (EDT)
Weaving Compliance and Regulatory
Requirements into Textile R&D Webinar
more info...
April 27, 2015
Gulf Coast Meeting
Early Cotton Chemistry Research at the
Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC)
more info...
April 29, 2015
C2C® Student Merchandising Competition
Entries Due
more info...
April 30,2015
New England Section Meeting
Providence, RI
more info...
June 10-14, 2015
The 13th International Wool Research
Conference & AATCC Sustainability
Symposium
Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
more info..
September 16-17, 2015
Antibacterial/Odor Conference
Research Triangle Park, NC
Mark Your Calendar!
**If you would like to register for an event
please contact our Education Department.
Open Enrollment
Textile Fundamentals Web-Based Training
more info...
Online AATCC Test Method Training
more info...
AATCC Recorded Webinars
more info...
Getting White Right
more info...
Proficiency Testing Registration
May 5, 2015
Colorfastness
more info...
May 5-7, 2015
May Committee Meetings
Research Triangle Park, NC
more info
May 17-19, 2015
STRC 2015 Conference
Greenville, SC
more info...
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AATCC News | AATCC Online
Materials Science Enables
New “Smart” Textiles
By Dr. Michael Burrows, DuPont Microcircuit Materials
It is easy to see why wearable electronics have been capturing headlines recently. The combination of
two previously separate markets, mobile consumer electronics and apparel, is providing fertile new ground
for exciting innovation. The wearable electronics industry is pushing both sides to channel their best
technologies and designs into compelling new products often referred to as smart clothing. The public’s interest
in smart textiles and smart clothing is at an all-time high with new innovations and collaborations announced on
a regular basis.
A steady stream of high-profile fashion brands and
technology companies have already introduced smart
clothing offerings. Adidas, Victoria Secret, Ralph Lauren,
The North Face in Japan, Tommy Hilfiger, and Microsoft have
all announced products in the space. Beyond the
established brands, there is a vibrant ecosystem of smaller
players and start-ups in the process of bringing their own
products to market. These companies include Athos,
Myontec, Bebop Sensor, Sensoria, Visijax, and Hexoskin.
New functionality ranges from the ability to carry electrical
signals, to sense physiological or environmental information,
to communicate information, or even to generate electricity.
All of these designs have one thing in common. They are powered by a stream of innovative new materials.
The fabric itself can be conductive or sensing (i.e. Eeon, Sensing tex), a conductive yarn can be woven into
the garment during circular knitting (i.e. Bekaert, Silverell), a conductive thread can be stitched (Textronics),
and more recently, stretchable inks can be used to print circuits
and sensors (DuPont) directly onto the fabric itself. These
technologies can even be combined to give designers the broadest
set of options. For example, sensing textiles can be combined with
printed electronic traces to allow for more comfortable, lighterweight designs.
Performance testing and industry standards are also evolving.
Today, the electronics and textile industries each have reliability
standards through IEC and AATCC respectively, and product
manufacturers have their own internal standards. However, new
test standards may need to be developed to reflect the unique
characteristics of smart clothing applications, such as electrical
performance versus stretch, or electrical insulation versus the
number of washes.
Many developers require real-life testing to demonstrate performance during the early stages of
product development. This slows progress and reduces the number of variations that can be tested.
Once simulation and accelerated test protocols are broadly accepted, innovation will accelerate. Companies
will become comfortable with both electrical and textile testing and advance the development of new tests.
Novel materials and textile science are generating significant excitement for this emerging market. There is
little doubt clothing will be getting a lot “smarter” within the next few years.
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AATCC News | AATCC Online
Selecting a Textile Testing Lab
Part VII
By Diana Wyman, AATCC Technical Director
There are many options for textile testing and it isn’t always easy to find a lab perfectly suited to your needs.
This series of articles touches on some of the questions to ask—of yourself and of the lab—before making
your choice.
Customer Service
Choosing a textile testing lab is an important decision for your business. Obviously, good customer service
makes any transaction more pleasant, but it can also make the difference between getting what you need
and paying for what you can’t use. In choosing a testing lab, it helps to know what services to expect and
what questions to ask.
Timeliness
• How long does it normally take to get test results?
• Are rush options available?
• How long does it take to get a response to questions?
• If samples will be returned, what is the shipping schedule?
Accessibility
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AATCC News | AATCC Online
• Who can you contact with questions?
• What days or times is your contact available?
• Does the lab have offices in your time zone?
• Is it easy to request testing and submit samples?
• Is it easy to access past and present results?
• Are reports clear and easy to understand?
Knowledge
• Can the lab answer technical questions about the testing and your results?
• Do you understand the answers?
• Can someone provide updates on the status of you tests or account?
• Does the lab share information relevant to your business even when you don’t ask a question?
Flexibility
• Can the lab accommodate special requests?
• Are requests accurately fulfilled?
• Do prices or services change based on the volume of testing?
Knowing what matters most to your organization is important. For example, if you have unique testing or
reporting needs, you may have to compromise on the time it takes to get results. If you need immediate results,
you may not get as detailed a report or explanation.
Next…Certification
Look for more articles in the “Selecting a Textile Lab” series. Read Part I on Lab Affiliation, Part II on
Proficiency, Part III on Specialized Services, Part IV on Calibration, Part V on Test Method Development, and
Part VI on Continuing Education. The next article will appear in the May 19, 2015 newsletter. If you have
questions or comments about this series, please contact AATCC Technical Director, Diana Wyman.
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AATCC News | AATCC Online
Student Chapter Awards
Part 1
AATCC presents Student Chapter Awards every year to graduating seniors from our Student Chapters to
be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, or society. AATCC presents
each chapter award winner with a certificate and a copy of Color Vision and Technology. Winners also receive
one year of free Student Membership in AATCC as they start their careers. Be sure to congratulate
these outstanding AATCC student members!
AADTT
Mahak Goyal, from AADTT, majors in textile chemistry and wet processing, and has
been at the top of her class in both her undergraduate program and at AADTT. “Mahak is
an outstanding student, having a good track record of academics and also deep
understanding of the concepts,” says AADTT advisor Siva Rama Kumar Pariti. “She is
endowed with a rare ability of grasping and assimilating new and often complex ideas
with consummate ease. She is always curious to learn the basic concepts and develop
new and innovative ideas from them.” Goyal is an active participant of AADTT’s AATCC
Student Chapter activities. She coordinates and organizes various technical as well as
non-technical events for the Chapter, such as the General Knowledge quiz, Technical
quiz, Group Discussion, Debate, and even cultural events like organizing an
Independence Day Celebration. She is also an active campaigner in coordinating and
conducting the social service activity for the AATCC Student Chapter, and visiting and
collecting goods required by the orphanage adopted by the Chapter.
Clemson University
Nadia Klep majors in materials science and engineering with a
polymeric materials concentration and Spanish and chemistry minors.
Advisor Garry Lickfield says Klep performed extremely well academically,
as evidenced by her 3.86 GPA. She has been named to the Dean’s List for
four semesters and to the President’s list (perfect 4.0 GPA) for
three semesters. She is a Palmetto Fellow, a member of the Calhoun
Honors College, and the recipient of several scholarships and
awards, including the Nonwovens Institute Scholarship, the AATCC
Piedmont Scholarship, the Robert Benheim, and the Robert Knight
Eaton honor awards. Klep is a member of AATCC and Phi Psi, the
honorary Textile Fraternity at Clemson, in which she has been very
active since her induction in the fall of 2012. According to Lickfield, “She
has worked in the department since her freshman year and has been
very active in research all four years, working with Igor Luzinov and working
in our physical testing and microscopy laboratory.” Klep served as a College
of Engineering Ambassador, representing the Material Science
and Engineering department and providing campus tours for
prospective freshmen, and as a Tigers Teach Tutor.
Cornell University
Vanessa Sanchez is a fiber science major with a 3.675 GPA. According to Cornell’s
AATCC Student Chapter faculty advisor Huiju Park, “Vanessa is an outstanding senior with
great passion about integrating fiber science into fashion for enhanced functionality, comfort,
and eco-friendly solutions. She, as an undergraduate student researcher, has been very active
in interdisciplinary research collaboration for sustainable textile business in developing
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AATCC News | AATCC Online
countries. For example, she and her teammates were selected as the finalist of P3
Sustainable Design Competition hosted by US Environmental Protection Agency in 2014. In
addition to her great academic performance in her course work, she also has participated in
the Cornell Fashion Collective Annual Fashion Show as a student designer.” Park says that
Sanchez has made a significant contribution to the AATCC Cornell Student Chapter through
her active participation in the Chapter activities and her service as one of the officers.
Florida State University (FSU)
Rebecca Cunningham maintains a 3.4/4.0 GPA and is on the FSU Dean’s
List, according to Student Chapter advisor Kay Grise. Cunningham has served as
the FSU Retail Center Photographer and Retail Center Student liaison. She has
studied abroad and served as the Lifestyle director for Swatch magazine. She
also served as an AATCC Student Chapter officer, first as secretary; then as
president. Cunningham was chosen to represent FSU at the National
Retail Federation’s Big Show in January 2015. She is also a Bright Futures
Recipient, Macy’s Fund for Excellence Scholarship winner, and an RMPD Retail
Center Student Leadership Scholarship recipient.
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Janine E. Feirer is a materials science and engineering major with a
concentration in polymer and fiber engineering at Georgia Tech. She is on the
Dean’s list with a 3.63 GPA. Although she is graduating with her Bachelor’s
degree this semester, she will graduate with her Master’s degree in materials
science and engineering in May 2015. She has cumulatively completed over
2.5 years of research during her time at Georgia Tech. She worked in an
electronic materials and devices lab and the Georgia Tech cleanroom
fabricating and testing large area thin film olybdenum disulfide. She won
second place in the 2014 MSE undergraduate poster competition for her work.
More recently, she has been working in the mechanical properties lab,
compression testing various footwear insole samples. She also has been
working to model these compression tests with an engineering software,
COMSOL Multiphysics, to further understand the properties of these insoles.
According to advisor Fred Cook, Feirer was executive philanthropy chair for
her sorority, where she helped raise more than $15,000 for a dance marathon
and organized the “Phi Mu Tea Party,” which raised over $4,500 in one night;
both benefitting Children’s Miracle Network. She also was a member and
advisor for the Freshman Activities Board, which puts on events for the
freshman class to enjoy. “Despite all of these extracurricular activities in
college, her true love has been materials science and engineering,” says
Cook. “She always mentors and convinces.”
Stay tuned for more Student Chapter award winners in our next newsletter issue!
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