The Spanish Institute of Textile Technology (AITEX) has joined forces with four technological institutes in Spain, in the research and development (R&D) project initiated for developing smart materials and fabrics to create a comfortable environment for habitat.

 

According to a statement issued by AITEX, the five technology institutes, including AITEX, would be studying the application of new smart materials to increase comfort through continously learning about human habits under the R&D project ‘Sustainable Habitat: Development and integration of solutions for improving environmental comfort’.

 

Under the project, AITEX would be looking into the development of fabrics with unusual properties that can improve environmental-thermal comfort, lighting and air-quality issues through the interaction of smart materials and sustainable solutions for domestic and public environments.

 

AITEX would be working on the development of sensors that alert carbon oxide (CO) tissues by electroluminescent effect in a shade of danger in Bi-zonal blankets programmable to be heated at a desired temperature by the user, which would help in decontaminating fabrics for indoor environments.

 

The textile institute would also be researching to create new fabrics that allow greater or lower incidence of sun rays inside the home as preferred by the user.

 

The R&D project is funded by Valencia Institute for Business Competitiveness (IVACE) and the European Union (EU) through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

 

In addition to AITEX, the other four Spanish technological institutes working on developing smart materials under the project are the Technological Institute of Construction (AIDICO), the Technological Institute of Optics, Color and Imaging (AIDO), the Technological Institute of Furniture, Wood and Packaging (AIDIMA) and the Institute of Ceramic Technology (ITC).