The application of temperature-sensitive hydrogels to textiles: A review of Chinese and Japanese investigations

Scientists have made many attempts to develop smart textiles by grafting the copolymerisation of environment-responsive polymers (ERP) onto the surface of fabrics. Among the ERPs used for this purpose, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm) has attracted considerable attention due to its well-defined lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in an aqueous medium of temperature about 32-34°C, which is close to body temperature. This article summarises recent advances in the application of PNIPAAm and its copolymer hydrogels to temperature-sensitive hygroscopic fabrics, environment-sensitive deodorant fibres and stimuli-sensitive nutrient delivery fabrics. Another temperature sensitive poly(2-ethoxyethyl vinyl ether)/poly(hydroxyethyl vinyl ether) copolymer (EOVE200-HOVE40) is also briefly introduced, with regard to its application in thermally-controlled Vitamin E release.