Science and Engineering of Composite Materials (Sep 2024)
Intelligent sportswear design: Innovative applications based on conjugated nanomaterials
Abstract
Sport plays a crucial role in human society, fostering physical health, collaboration, and the spirit of rivalry. The importance of sports in promoting a sense of well-being, self-control, and cognitive sharpness should be considered. The efficacy of sports and athletic performance often relies on the caliber of clothing used. Traditional sportswear encounters many issues, including but not limited to restricted breathability, inefficient moisture management, and insufficient ultraviolet (UV) protection. To examine these concerns, the present study investigates the Intelligent Sportswear Design (ISWD), an innovative advancement rooted in conjugated nanomaterials. The field of ISWD covers the development of sports apparel and footwear specifically intended to boost performance and provide optimal comfort. Coatings of graphene, silver nanoparticles, and environmentally friendly green nanomaterials are employed in these multipurpose PES fabrics. This research looks at how we might better protect athletes from the sun by developing fabrics with UV-blocking qualities. Results show increased moisture-wicking efficiency, better UV-radiation protection, and enhanced electrical conductivity. The study found that fabric moisture management could be improved by 25%, UV-blocking performance could be increased by 30%, fabric conductivity could be increased by 15%, and heat retention could be decreased by 20%. The experimental results show that the proposed ISWD exhibits notable performance in several necessary measures, including moisture-wicking effectiveness (23.22%), UV-blocking performance (34.22%), fabric conductivity (20.88%), heat retention reduction (26.94%), and UV radiation shielding (35.68%).
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