Hooah: The Latest Advancements in Military Smart Textiles
The brave men and women who protect our freedom face constant challenges when out in the field. Not only is there the constant threat of an attack, but there’s also concerns regarding harsh climates and weather, bugs, and physical injury that can add to a soldier’s stress.
Over the last few years, new innovations in smart textiles are working to solve some of these issues through integration into military uniforms, helping to keep our military members safe and as comfortable as possible.
Both E-Textiles and Functional Textiles
According to Roshan Paul, Platform Leader of the Smart Finishing Group at the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University, Germany, smart textiles in military uniforms are very important for enabling communication, and for providing comfort and protection.
“Smart textiles include both e-textiles and functional textiles,” Paul explained. “The e-textiles are somewhat mature, however, digitalization and AI (artificial intelligence) can bring innovations for military uniforms in the near future. Regarding functional textiles, protection is the main focus, be it from mosquitoes, hot weather cooling effects, and light weight bullet proofing — shear thickening fluids as ‘liquid armor’ instead of metal plates.”
Paul said that multi-functionality is growing in importance in military uniform, and this could be achieved through technologies like green chemistry, biotechnology, or nanotechnology applications for providing attributes such as flame retardancy, UV protection, antimicrobial and antiviral protection, and mosquito repellent.
Additionally, Paul said that smart dyes such as near-infrared dyes can help provide camouflage on military uniforms. “Thermochromic and photochromic dyes can offer ‘chameleon’ effects, depending on ambient temperatures and by altering the optical properties when exposed to sunlight,” he explained.
Enabling Communication Via Touch
One company that is aiming to provide an alternative communication method for military out in the field is Actile Technologies, which has developed a smart textile that can deliver information in a physical language.
“We send physical signals such as squeezes, taps, motions, electrical stimulation, heat — basically the full language of touch,” explained Barclay Jumet, mechanical engineering PhD graduate from the Preston Innovation Laboratory (PI Lab) at Rice University, where this technology was first developed, and co-founder of Actile Technologies. “And that way the warfighter can receive information without having to look down at their smartphone that’s on their chest, or without clogging their audio communications with more messages or alerts. It allows them to keep their eyes and ears on the battlefield and actually do what they were trained to do, rather than being distracted by their devices.”
For example, a military commander who is not within view of their squad or a drone up in the sky could send out a signal to soldiers that is then relayed by touch. “So if it’s a squeeze, an electrical stimulation, or a heat signal, that would tell them what type of info is coming in, and then where on their body it’s stimulating, tells them where that info is,” Jumet detailed.
Jumet says they use a sheet-based lamination process to adhere the smart textile to any place in a military uniform, on any area of the body. “That gives us a really intuitive way to communicate a 360-degree view of their surroundings that eyes and ears, frankly, fall short on,” he continues. “We only have eyes in the front of our head and then our abilities to locate with audio are limited. That’s where touch really shines is having this sort of full view.”
In addition to military applications, Jumet says they’re next looking to bring this smart textile technology to firefighting. “Enabling those folks that are similarly facing life or death consequences and also have very constrained audio visual communication,” he explained. “With a raging fire in a building, there’s a lot of smoke, can’t hear much, can’t see much, and so it’s a perfect dual use case for the technology.”
Advanced Protective Fabrics for Demanding Military Use
Another company working to provide innovative textiles for military uniforms is W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore), whose portfolio focuses on multi-threat protection solutions, advanced protective textiles, and high-performance protective fabrics that help service members stay protected, comfortable, and focused in unpredictable environments.
“Military personnel can face wet weather, wind, temperature extremes, heat and flame exposure, sand, dust, contaminants, and other demanding conditions,” says a Gore-Tex Brand Fabrics spokesperson. “Advanced clothing systems help manage those variables by balancing protection with breathability, moisture management, mobility, packability, and durability. While the broader industry may use ‘smart textiles’ to describe sensor- or electronics-enabled materials, Gore’s public-facing defense fabrics portfolio is centered on advanced protective fabric systems engineered for demanding military use.”
Examples include integrated clothing system approaches designed so components can function independently or together, such as Gore-Tex Product Technology for durably waterproof, windproof, and breathable protection; WINDSTOPPER technologies by Gore-Tex Labs for lightweight, breathable wind protection; and Gore-Tex Pyrad fabric technologies for lightweight heat and flame protection.
Gore-Tex Brand advanced protective fabrics and integrated systems are used in a variety of military personal protective equipment, including garments, footwear, gloves, and sleep systems. “These technologies are engineered to help protect against environmental and operational hazards while supporting comfort and mobility,” the spokesperson continues. “At a high level, Gore-Tex Professional Defense Fabrics use engineered fabric constructions and laminates that help block external elements such as rain and wind while allowing internal moisture vapor to escape. Other Gore technologies are designed for specific protective needs, including heat and flame protection.”
Keeping our military men and women safe is a hard job, and thankfully there are innovative textile manufacturers who are taking up the challenge.
About the Author
Corrie Pelc is a journalist, editor, and freelance writer with more than 26-years’ experience. A former associate editor for Nonwovens Industry, her byline can be found in a variety of consumer and trade publications, with past and current clients including Medical News Today, IAAPA’s Funworld Magazine, Rinksider Magazine, International Bowling Industry magazine, and HomeTalk.com, as well as AATCC Review and AATCC News.