Smart materials

Ghent
R&D manager Textile Functionalisation & Surface Modification

Development of a new, bio-based, smart and completely recyclable composite material, obtained by fast and low energy consumption out-of-autoclave process.

By creating a versatile hybrid plug & play wearable sensor technology platform, expertise in functional skin adhesives and smart textiles will be combined with the aim of making wearable technology more accessible to SMEs.

SUINK will do away with large amounts of copper cables in millions of cars by replacing them with bio-based piezoelectric modules. It is a great example of how a novel technology can reduce the use of raw materials while increasing the bio-based and/or recycled content in the automotive sector.

SmartX is short for "European Smart Textiles Accelerator". Innovation projects supported through the SmartX Accelerator programme will focus on connecting promising design prototypes and a growing end market interest in smart textiles and wearables.

Smart textiles are able to sense and respond to changes in their environment, increasing as such their functionality to the wearer. The main application fields of smart textiles are safety and protection (e.g. technical textiles and workwear), medical support (e.g. monitoring of the elderly) and performance enhancement (e.g. fitness and sport).

CONTEXT brings together European researchers, manufacturers and main relevant stakeholders in order to develop joint ideas and initiatives which can be turned into advanced smart textile products.

cover Cure and Care brochure

Cure & Care textiles are designed to restore the patient to health, to improve the patient’s comfort experience and to optimise and facilitate the work of healthcare providers and medical staff. This brochure illustrates some of  Centexbel's developments in the field of textiles dedicated to health

The sector of photonic textiles in buildings and mobility contain real possibilities. Both areas are important within the H2020 projects of the European Commission in view of future and innovating textile applications. The integration of such novel textiles in buildings also complies with the European directives regarding the reduction of energy consumption with 20% in buildings by 2020 (Directive 2012/27/EU and the European Parliament and Council of 25 Otober 2012) and the construction of zero-energy buildings from 2021 onwards.