3D printing (3DP) is one of the modern approaches in the field of manufacturing. Although this process has been known for a fair amount of time, only the more-recent developments have revealed its potential for applications in different manufacturing sectors. Textiles, one of the basic human requirements, does more than just fulfilling the fundamental necessity of covering the body. Integrating 3DP technology in textiles has broadened the horizon of the textile world. This review explores the historical background as well as state-of-the-art developments in 3DP related to textiles and fashion. It discusses basic ideas about fundamental textile substrates, various 3DP technologies related to textiles, different printing devices and tools, materials used as print inks, direct printing of 3D objects on various textile substrates, fabrication techniques of 3D printed textile structures, different process parameters and their impacts, tests and standards, benefits and limitations. It also highlights the future for further implementation of 3DP technology in the textile industry. Overall, this issue of Textile Progress attempts to ascertain the potential of 3DP which, despite having some drawbacks, could enrich the outputs of the textile and fashion industry and motivate future designers and scientists to engage in its further exploration.
Progress in advanced electronics has initiated the investigation of new ways to develop and apply self‐powered smart devices. The concern for meteoric exhausting non‐renewable energy sources has spurred such endeavors. Even so, using external power sources like batteries is problematic due to limited capacity, maintenance inconvenience, replacement, and environmental hazards. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) capable of converting various forms of mechanical energies into electrical output are gaining popularity. The marine and coastal areas are abundant sources of salvable mechanical energy. TENGs can convert lower‐frequency, ununiform, multidirectional energies into usable electricity. This can solve the device‐powering problem and can generate diverse signals to act as monitoring or sensing platforms themselves. In this review, three main TENG‐based/TENG‐driven application themes are addressed, i.e., energy harvesting, marine environment monitoring, and self‐powered equipment for marine‐related activities. It attempts to emphasize that various design features of TENGs can influence output performance; TENGs can power devices and monitor ocean parameters; TENGs‐integrated modern IoT networking systems can transmit real‐time data. Overall, this review encompasses the fundamental working mechanisms, structure designs, and practical implementation scenarios of recently developed devices in diverse marine applications. Finally, the existing challenges and potential future directions for TENG‐based marine self‐powered electronic systems are discussed.
12 March 2024 in Macromolecular Materials and Engineering
Silk fibroin (SF), a natural protein derived from silkworms, has emerged as a promising biomaterial due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, degradation rate, and tunable mechanical properties. This review delves into the intrinsic attributes of SF that make it an attractive candidate for scaffold development in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The distinctiveness of this comprehensive review resides in its detailed exploration of recent advancements in the fabrication techniques of SF‐based fibrous scaffolds, namely electrospinning, freeze‐drying, and 3D printing. An in‐depth analysis of these fabrication techniques is conducted to illustrate their versatility in customizing essential scaffold characteristics, such as porosity, fiber diameter, and mechanical strength. The article meticulously discusses process parameters, advantages, and challenges of each fabrication technique, highlighting the innovative advancements made in the respective field. Furthermore, the review goes beyond fabrication techniques to provide an overview of the latest biomedical applications and research endeavors utilizing SF‐derived scaffolds. From nerve regeneration and wound healing to drug delivery, bone regeneration, and vascular tissue engineering, the diverse applications underscore the versatility of SF in adopting various biomedical challenges. Finally, the article emphasizes the need for standardized characterization techniques, scalable manufacturing processes, and long‐term in vivo studies.
18 August 2023 in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
This article comprehensively reviews the recent progress in chemical compound synthesis and detection using triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Current limitations and challenges important for future development in these fields were also addressed.