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The SmartTex shirt for astronaut’s James Heal introduces new

vital functions monitoring HydroView hydrostatic head tester

In cooperation with DSI Aerospace Technology, the
German Aerospace Centre (DLR) has developed a
new SmarTex Shirt that will use integrated sensors to
transfer physiological data from astronauts to Earth via
a wireless communication network. SmartTex will be
tested as part of the Wireless Compose-2 (WICO2)
project. The SmartTex shirt is intended to provide a
continuous picture of the vital functions of astronauts,
which will be particularly relevant for future long-term
human-crewed space missions to the Moon and Mars.
Future transfer of the SmartTex technology to fitness James Heal’s new HydroView hydrostatic head tester is the latest instrument in the company’s performance
and telemedicine applications is expected. testing range. It is designed to measure the penetration of water in materials that have an end-user that requires
water resistance, such as those in the medical, apparel, geotextiles, and nonwovens sectors – from protective
During the BEAT experiment (Ballistocardiography for gloves, diving drysuits, and winter sports apparel to fishing waders, roofing, tenting, groundsheets and more.
Extraterrestrial Applications and long-Term missions),
Maurer will be the first astronaut to wear a T-shirt HydroView was developed following extensive user research. James Heal’s product innovation team discovered
equipped with sensors that measure his ballistocardiography data, such as pulse and relative blood that users were looking for an instrument that is more flexible and user-friendly than what is currently available
pressure. For this purpose, the sensors were calibrated in the envihab research facility at the DLR on the market. It is an easier-to-use instrument with integrated proprietary TestWise software developed
Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne. in-house. The new HydroView hydrostatic tester has a 10-inch touchscreen that allows users to choose from
pre-loaded standards or create their own.
In a typical SmarTex Shirt, the wireless communication network reads sensor data and can determine
the position of people and objects in space by propagation times of radio pulses. It is also available as a Test reports are easy to view and analyze on-screen and customized for export to Excel or PDF. The vertical
platform for several experiments on the ISS. The data is temporarily stored within the network and read clamping ensures an effective seal without distortion, even on thicker specimens, for accurate and repeatable
out at regular intervals by the astronauts. It can give them indications regarding their vital signs and testing. The new instrument can test across pressures from 0-10,000 mbar, making it suitable for testing even
could be beneficial. the most high-performance waterproof system.

Janus Textile: A revolutionary breakthrough
Michelman's Unyte: A new surface modification solution for technical textiles

Michelman (Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.) announced a new adhesion, and heat solutions provide heat resistance. to keep you warm and cool you down
surface modification solution that helps improve Glide increases lubricity and slip and facilitates tow
technical textiles' performance and functional spreading of fibers in technical textile production. The researchers in Belgium have unveiled the design for a fabric that could keep a person warm when worn
behavior in applications including construction, ballistic, Unyte Grip promotes the adhesion between fibers one way while cooling them down if worn inside out. The researchers present a theoretical design for a 20 µm
medical and hygiene, automotive, filtration media, and polymeric matrices, helping to improve various thick Janus textile, named after the two-faced Roman god. The two interwoven sides of the material are com-
prepreg, and consumer products. Unyte is Michelman's functional or mechanical properties. Unyte Slip helps posed of two different fibers – dielectric and metallic, each with very different infrared-emitting properties. The
versatile family of water-based technologies that help prevent fabrics, nonwovens, and prepregs that need dielectric fibers can emit large amounts of radiation on one side, while the metallic fibers have low emissivity on
achieve advanced form and function in woven and to be stacked or rolled without sticking together. the other side.
nonwoven materials used to design technical textiles
and prepreg fabrics. These solutions enhance textile Unyte Resist products are designed to provide The team used a thermal model to test their asymmetrical fabric to calculate the differences between each
products' performance, Michelman says, by excellent wet-out and moisture/chemical resistance to side’s infrared transmission, reflection, and absorption properties. They discovered that if the Janus textile is
improving adhesion, binding, slip, processability, and fabrics, wovens, and nonwovens. Unyte Print boosts worn with its dielectric fibers touching the skin, large amounts of radiation could be prevented from escaping,
chemical and heat resistance. ink adhesion for improved print receptivity and keeping the wearer comfortably warm in temperatures as low as 11°C.
minimal color bleed. Fabrics that are over-printed for
The Unyte family includes Unyte Bind, Unyte Heat, decoration and branding; or identification codes However, if the fabric is flipped inside-out, it could emit as much radiation as bare skin, keeping the wearer cool
Unyte Glide, Unyte Grip, Unyte Slide, Unyte Print, and where legibility is essential can benefit from these in temperatures as high as 24°C. Although large-scale material manufacturing is not feasible, the researchers
Unyte Resist. The Bind improves fiber-to-fiber solutions. hope their results will inspire further research into similar fabrics.

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