Page 64 - February-March-2020

Tech infused wearables
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With this marvelous innovation it is now possible to control the
feeling temperature. The Smart Coat by Emel and Aris combines
the features of apparel style, luxury fabric and revolutionary infrared
heat technology. This Smart Coat works from day to night, autumn
to spring, London to New York, Paris to Milan.

It comes with the three heat settings which can be activated at the
touch of a button. The Smart Coat collection is made entirely in the
UK using the finest quality Italian Loro Piana fabrics in cotton or
cashmere and wool blend in a rainbow of colours. All the fabrics
are treated with Loro Piana’s Storm System®, a double barrier to
make them water and wind-repellent yet completely breathable.
Although the fabrics are luxurious they are strong and durable for
winter weather. Prof. Zijian Zheng, showing Textile Lithium battery developed by his team Textile Lithium batteries developed at Institute of Textile and
at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hidden under the lining of the Smart Coat is a lightweight
patent-pending heating system. The heat spreads through a flexible
inert polymer that has a preset temperature so it can’t overheat. The ITC-PolyU developed highly flexible
only wiring is a short cable that connects the polymer to a small
removable battery that sits in a discreet zipped pocket. It is
impossible to tell these coats heat but once you try the Smart Coat, high-energy textile lithium battery to
it is hard to leave home or take a flight without one.

The Smart Coat is often described as being like a warm hug. That is
because the heat emitted is far infrared (FIR) which doesn’t just cope with surging demand for
heat the surface like wired heating, it’s absorbed by the body and
warms the muscles. The main heat patch is concentrated on the
lower back so the FIR can be absorbed by the kidneys to increase wearable electronics
circulation and give you a warm feeling all over. FIR is the healthiest
heat on the spectrum and has long been associated with wellbeing.
FIR is used to reduce pain, increase muscle flexibility, and stimulate
collagen and even to detoxify. Researchers at Institute of Textile and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have successfully
developed a highly flexible, high-energy Textile Lithium Battery that is capable of providing more stable,
durable and safe energy supply for wearable electronics with numerous applications which may include
healthcare monitoring, intelligent textiles, smartphones, Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and
Basf, mizuno improve training footwear ITC's novel lightweight Textile Lithium Battery demonstrates high energy density of more than 450 Wh/L,
Internet of Things (IoT).

and excellent flexibility — with a bending radius of less than 1mm, and foldability of over 1,000 cycles with
Basf has disclosed a new material named Elastopan the midsole’s new geometries has been pivotal in marginal capacity degradation. In comparison, the existing bendable lithium batterycan only reach a
polyurethane for Mizuno’s new training footwear. The helping us to successfully produce the new training bending radius of about 25 mm, and with much lower performance of less than 200 Wh/L. The Textile
shoes are capable of providing improved balance to footwear.” Lithium Battery, of less than 0.5 mm thick, also possesses fast charging/discharging capability, and long
the wearer which will ultimately boost athletic perfor- cycle life comparable with conventional lithium batteries. Laboratory tests conducted by the ITC team
mance. The high-performance material solution The new optimised polyurethane grade introduced in have proven the extremely high mechanical stability, durability and safety of the Textile Lithium Battery
enables Mizuno’s Centre of Balance (COB) technolo- Mizuno’s new training footwear possess high under deformation. When the battery is repeatedly folded in half, twisted at different angles or freely
gy that transmits information to the soles of the feet hydrolysis resistance and good bonding strength. crumpled, its voltage window remained unchanged. Bending test showed that the battery can be bent
through activation bumps moulded into the surface Unlike conventional materials, Basf’s polyurethane over 1,000 times with marginal capacity degradation. Safety tests conducted by continuous hammering,
of the midsole. Natsuki Sato, of Global Footwear materials has extraordinary confirmability that can trimming with scissors and penetrating with nail proved the battery can stably provide power output for
Product Division, Mizuno Corporation said that conform easily and seamlessly to the uneven shape the electronic components with no risk of catching fire or burst.
of the activation bumps moulded into the surface of
“Mizuno has always emphasised the importance of the midsole. This innovative technology will definitely
product innovation as a key growth driver for our maximise comfort and functionality in sports
company. Using Basf’s advanced material solution in footwear applications.”

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