What is it about?
Color changeable materials refer to stimuli-induced reversible change in color. Such stimuli can be light, temperature, chemicals, electricity, mechanical impact, etc. Based on that we can speak about photochromic, thermochromic, electrochromic, and piezochromic materials. Photochromics are generally unstable organic molecules; they are transparent and colourless when the light is soft and they don’t absorb light. After irradiation by light contains UV radiation they become coloured. When this light is removed, the colour disappears and this process is obviously promoted by temperature.
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Why is it important?
In the textile sector, photochromic materials have been used for several decades now. Currently, the fashion industry shows a good deal of interest in photochromic textiles, used to create colourful designs and effects, which change according to the incoming light intensity. The characteristics of these textiles depend on the substance used on them. Measurement of thermal sensitivity of photochromic materials is important mainly, if such materials are used as sensors of UV radiation intensity.
Perspectives
Photochromic dyes can be used as sensor capable of detect and react to UV light of selected spectra. That means sensors which will check UV - A and UV-B independently. This way, the increased functionality of photochromic textiles is necessary to control carefully by accomplished measuring method to guarantee of expected quality.
Dr. Michal Vik
Technical University of Liberec
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Photochromic Textiles and Measurement of Their Temperature Sensitivity, Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, August 2014, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/rjta-18-03-2014-b002.
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