Description:
<p>In sports textiles, continuous growing and one of the biggest markets, changing customer expectations in the direction of 'maintaining comfort in all conditions', have created demand for textile structures having smart comfort functions in dynamic conditions. In this manner, adaptive water absorption and also transfer capability depending on the environment and body conditions for sportswear could provide a drier and more comfortable feeling during intense sweating. For developing sport textiles with adaptive water absorption and transfer capability; conventional knitted cotton and regenerated cellulosic fabrics (cotton, recycled cotton, viscose, modal, lyocell, bamboo), mostly used in sports textiles, were treated with temperature-water sensitive shape memory nanocomposite for adaptive water absorption capacity and transfer features by keeping the acceptable fabric hand features. Adaptive water absorption and transfer capability of the fabrics were measured by modified drop, immersion period, and absorption capacity tests using water at different temperatures (20°C and 40°C). Also, presence of coating on fabrics’ surface and fabric-nanocomposite interactions were detected by SEM and FT-IR analysis, respectively. According to results, temperature-water responsive nanocomposite treated viscose knitted fabric having acceptable bending rigidity increment comparing to their raw forms and also adaptive liquid absorption period and capacity features, can be suggested for a smart sports textile.<br></p>