From Smart Materials to Chromic Textiles
259
Table 1 Classes of chromic
colorants and related external
stimulus
Chromic colorant
External stimulus
Photochromic
Light
Halochromic
pH
Thermochromic
Heat
Electrochromic
Electric current
Mechanochromic
Mechanical deformation
Piezochromic
Mechanical pressure
Tribochromic
Mechanical friction
Solavtochromic
Solvent polarity
Hygrochromic
Moisture
Chemochromic
Chemical agents
Ionochromic
Ions
Chronochromic
Time
Gasochromic
Gases
Carsolchromic
Electron beam
Vapochromic
Vapors of organic materials
Biochromic
Biological agents
Aggregachromic
Aggregation of colorants
Crystallochromic
Crystal structure change of a colorant
Magnetochromic
Magnetic field
Cathodochromic
Electron beam irradiation
Radiochromic
Ionizing radiation
conventional clothing technology with other fields of science, such as communication technology, sensors and actuators, materials and biological sciences, artificial
intelligence, structural mechanics and advance processing [33, 34].
Thus, chromic textiles could be classified as passive smart clothing. Chromic textile sensors offer a responsive effect to an external stimulus by a visible color change,
which offer the benefit of a self-contained responsive action that does not necessitate
any electric elements [35]. Chromic colorants currently available are restricted in
scope, relatively costly and have been designed for non-textile purposes. Thus, they
cannot be employed in exactly the same methodologies as conventional clothing
dyestuffs. They may also demonstrate inadequate stability under certain conditions
resulting in less durable goods based on chromic clothing [36]. An ambitious motivation anticipated for chromic fabrics is the production of chameleon textiles with
highly controlled color shifting, such as textiles providing responsive camouflage
characteristics for military applications [37]. These futuristic chameleonic textiles
gained their name from reptiles (family Chamaeleonidae) whose skin can change its
color depending on the colors of the surrounding environment for attraction and camouflage [38]. Sophisticated clothing that can mimic such natural phenomena is not
on the instantaneous horizon. Thus, there have been considerable research efforts to
259
Table 1 Classes of chromic
colorants and related external
stimulus
Chromic colorant
External stimulus
Photochromic
Light
Halochromic
pH
Thermochromic
Heat
Electrochromic
Electric current
Mechanochromic
Mechanical deformation
Piezochromic
Mechanical pressure
Tribochromic
Mechanical friction
Solavtochromic
Solvent polarity
Hygrochromic
Moisture
Chemochromic
Chemical agents
Ionochromic
Ions
Chronochromic
Time
Gasochromic
Gases
Carsolchromic
Electron beam
Vapochromic
Vapors of organic materials
Biochromic
Biological agents
Aggregachromic
Aggregation of colorants
Crystallochromic
Crystal structure change of a colorant
Magnetochromic
Magnetic field
Cathodochromic
Electron beam irradiation
Radiochromic
Ionizing radiation
conventional clothing technology with other fields of science, such as communication technology, sensors and actuators, materials and biological sciences, artificial
intelligence, structural mechanics and advance processing [33, 34].
Thus, chromic textiles could be classified as passive smart clothing. Chromic textile sensors offer a responsive effect to an external stimulus by a visible color change,
which offer the benefit of a self-contained responsive action that does not necessitate
any electric elements [35]. Chromic colorants currently available are restricted in
scope, relatively costly and have been designed for non-textile purposes. Thus, they
cannot be employed in exactly the same methodologies as conventional clothing
dyestuffs. They may also demonstrate inadequate stability under certain conditions
resulting in less durable goods based on chromic clothing [36]. An ambitious motivation anticipated for chromic fabrics is the production of chameleon textiles with
highly controlled color shifting, such as textiles providing responsive camouflage
characteristics for military applications [37]. These futuristic chameleonic textiles
gained their name from reptiles (family Chamaeleonidae) whose skin can change its
color depending on the colors of the surrounding environment for attraction and camouflage [38]. Sophisticated clothing that can mimic such natural phenomena is not
on the instantaneous horizon. Thus, there have been considerable research efforts to