ASTM sponsors workshop on smart textile applications

ASTM International is sponsoring a workshop, “Smart Textile Applications,” Feb. 1, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta—a symposium held in conjunction with ASTM’s winter standards development meetings, Feb. 1–3.

ASTM is in the process of developing a roadmap relative to potential standards development in the smart textile sector, according to the workshop announcement in a Nov. 18 press release.

Although a standard definition is not established, research indicates that smart textiles may include functional materials or structures that sense and react to environmental conditions or stimuli, such as those from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic, or other sources, the release said.

This workshop will explore what is being done using smart textiles in various applications with the objective of identifying areas where standards can support this emerging technology.

Potential smart textile applications include:

• technical textiles—automotive applications, geotextiles (reinforcement of embankments or leak detection), agrotextiles (textiles for crop protection).
• clothing—medical applications for monitoring and treatment, military, protective clothing (i.e., thermal insulation, heat and radiation), consumer technology such as Bluetooth), security (i.e., access control, identification, GPS).
• home textiles—carpets, upholstery, beds for comfort adaptation.

The press release said that online registration opens the week of Dec. 4 and closes Jan. 25. There is no fee to attend the workshop.

For more information: contact Pat Picariello, 610-832-9720, ppicarie@astm.org.