As the importance of sustainability and performance increases, new developments in the manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) are requested. Ultraviolet (UV) curing offers a faster, more economical, and eco-friendlier alternative to conventionally used thermal curing methods, e.g., autoclave curing, but according to extant research, also presents some shortcomings, such as limitations to thin FRPCs and transparent glass fibers (GFs). This study analyses the UV light transmission in different thermoset FRPCs by irradiating various fiber samples on one side, while a sensor on the opposite side measures the transmitted irradiance. The materials investigated include unidirectional (UD) carbon fibers (CF), UD flax fibers (FF), and six GF fabrics with different ply structures. The fiber samples are tested in a dry, non-impregnated state and a resin-impregnated state using a UV-curable vinyl-ester-based resin. The results show that up to 16 plies of five GF fabrics are fully cured within the 20 s irradiation time and still exhibit a relatively high light transmission, revealing the potential of curing thick FRPCs with UV light. Furthermore, up to three plies of non-transparent FFs are cured, which is promising for the UV curing of natural fibers.

Water contamination from textile dyes is a major environmental hazard. This is due to the textile industry serving among the biggest manufacturers, thus the extensive usage of these dyes. Several methods for the treatment of these pollutants have been used; however, they have limitations in terms of cost, forming secondary pollution, and effectiveness. Metal oxides such as tin oxide (SnO2) have been identified as potential photocatalysts for the degradation of these dyes. The potential of SnO2-based photocatalysts, especially those made using green techniques, has been at the forefront of current research. The physical and optical properties, green synthesis techniques, and photocatalytic uses of SnO2 NPs are examined. Furthermore, methods to improve photocatalytic effectiveness through the formation of heterostructures are also explored. Lastly, the conclusion and future perspectives of these materials as suitable candidates for water treatment are highlighted.

Graphene has emerged as a promising material for transforming conventional textiles into smart, multi-functional platforms due to its exceptional electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in graphene-enhanced fabrics over the past ten years, focusing on their functional properties and real-world applications. This article examines the main strategies used to incorporate graphene and its derivatives—such as graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide—into textile substrates through coating, printing, or composite formation. The structural, electrical, thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of these fabrics are discussed based on characterization techniques including microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Functional evaluations in wearable strain sensors, biosignal acquisition, electrothermal systems, and energy storage devices are highlighted to demonstrate the versatility of these materials. Although challenges remain in scalability, durability, and washability, recent developments in fabrication and encapsulation methods show significant potential to overcome these limitations. This review concludes by outlining the major opportunities and future directions for graphene-based textiles in areas such as personalized health monitoring, active thermal wear, and integrated wearable electronics.

Sewing is the major contributor to the manufacturing of protection wear for the survival of early human civilization against extreme weather conditions. Mechanized sewing witnessed developments during the middle of the 19th century, and tedious handwork was replaced by sewing machines. Despite the modernization of sewing machine technologies, speed, material thicknesses, automation, and the introduction of AI in sewing, there is a longstanding problem of heat loss along stitch lines. The sewing material is compressed by the sewing thread, and this compression results in a bridge between the human body and the external cold environment. Garment technologists identify this problem and due to the lack of any technological solution, the problem is solved through complex material handling methods. A new sewing technological solution has been developed to solve this problem, called spacer stitching, which addresses the problem of compression along stitch lines. Two baffled jackets with sewn-through methods are prepared, one with the spacer stitching technology and the other with conventional sewing. Thermal resistance and insulation efficiency are evaluated using the Thermetrics thermal manikin “Sonny” under dynamic (walking) conditions to analyze the thermal resistance difference between the two types of sewing methods as well as the effects of motion on insulation. The results reveal that the jacket made with spacer stitching demonstrates significantly higher thermal resistance and enhanced wearer comfort compared to that produced using conventional methods. Additionally, variations in thermal resistance are observed across different zones of the thermal manikin. These findings highlight the potential of spacer stitching to improve thermal insulation and revolutionize high-performance outerwear design.

Advancements in thermoregulating textiles have been propelled by innovations in nanotechnology, composite materials, and smart fiber engineering. This article reviews recent scholarly papers on experimental passive and active thermoregulating textiles to present the latest advancements in these fabrics, their mechanisms of thermoregulation, and their feasibility for use. The review underscores that phase-change materials enhanced with graphene, boron nitride, and carbon nanofibers offer superior thermal conductivity, phase stability, and flexibility, making them ideal for wearable applications. Shape-stabilized phase-change materials and aerogel-infused fibers have shown promising results in outdoor, industrial, and emergency settings due to their durability and high insulation efficiency. Radiative cooling textiles, engineered with hierarchical nanostructures and Janus wettability, demonstrate passive temperature regulation through selective solar reflection and infrared emission, achieving substantial cooling effects without external energy input. Thermo-responsive, shape-memory materials, and moisture-sensitive polymers enable dynamic insulation and actuation. Liquid-cooling garments and thermoelectric hybrids deliver precise temperature control but face challenges in portability and power consumption. While thermoregulating textiles show promise, the main challenges include achieving scalable manufacturing, ensuring material flexibility, and integrating multiple functions without sacrificing comfort. Future research should focus on hybrid systems combining passive and active mechanisms, user-centric wearability studies, and cost-effective fabrication methods. These innovations hold significant potential for applications in extreme environments, athletic wear, military uniforms, and smart clothing, contributing to energy efficiency, health, and comfort in a warming climate.

This review explores the evolving landscape of sustainable textile manufacturing, with a focus on rubber-based materials for various industrial applications. The textile and rubber industries are shifting towards eco-friendly practices, driven by environmental concerns and the need to reduce carbon footprints. The integration of sustainable textiles in rubber-based products, such as tires, conveyor belts, and defense products, is becoming increasingly prominent. This review discusses the adoption of natural fibers like flax, jute, and hemp, which offer biodegradability and improved mechanical properties. Additionally, it highlights sustainable elastomer sources, including natural rubber from Hevea brasiliensis and alternative plants like Guayule and Russian dandelion, as well as bio-based synthetic rubbers derived from terpenes and biomass. The review also covers sustainable additives, such as silica fillers, nanoclay, and bio-based plasticizers, which enhance performance while reducing environmental impact. Textile–rubber composites offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional fiber-reinforced polymers when high flexibility and impact resistance are needed. Rubber matrices enhance fatigue life under cyclic loading, and sustainable textiles like jute can reduce environmental impact. The manufacturing process involves rubber preparation, composite assembly, consolidation/curing, and post-processing, with precise control over temperature and pressure during curing being critical. These composites are versatile and robust, finding applications in tires, conveyor belts, insulation, and more. The review also highlights the advantages of textile–rubber composites, innovative recycling and upcycling initiatives, addressing current challenges and outlining future perspectives for achieving a circular economy in the textile and rubber sectors.

The cornerstone of textile manufacturing lies in quality control, with the early detection of defects being crucial to ensuring product quality and sustaining a competitive edge. Traditional inspection methods, which predominantly depend on manual processes, are limited by human error and scalability challenges. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI)—encompassing computer vision, image processing, and machine learning—have transformed defect detection, delivering improved accuracy, speed, and reliability. This article critically examines the evolution of defect detection methods in the textile industry, transitioning from traditional manual inspections to AI-driven automated systems. It delves into the types of defects occurring at various production stages, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of conventional and automated approaches, and underscores the pivotal role of deep learning models, especially Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), in achieving high precision in defect identification. Additionally, the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as high-resolution cameras and real-time monitoring systems, into quality control processes is explored, highlighting their contributions to sustainability and cost-effectiveness. By addressing the challenges and opportunities these advancements present, this study serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers and industry professionals seeking to harness AI in optimizing textile production and quality assurance amidst the ongoing digital transformation.

Smart textiles are an evolving field, but challenges in durability, washing, interfacing, and sustainability persist. Widespread adoption requires robust, lightweight, fully integrated fiber-based conductors. This paper proposes using ultralong carbon nanotube (UCNT) yarns with a width-to-length ratio of several orders of magnitude larger than typical carbon nanotube fibers. These yarns enable the manufacturing of stable, workable structures, composed of a network of twisted fibers (tows), which are suitable for fabric integration. Our research includes the creation of textile prototype demonstrators integrated with coated and non-coated UCNT yarns, tested under military-grade standards for both mechanical durability and electric functionality. The demonstrators were evaluated for their electrical and mechanical properties under washability, abrasion, and weathering. Notably, polymer-coated UCNT yarns demonstrated improved mechanical durability and electrical performance, showing promising results. However, washing tests revealed the presence of UCNT nanofibers in the residue, raising concerns due to their classification as hazards by the World Health Organization. This paper examines the sources of fiber release and discusses necessary improvements to coating formulations and testing protocols to mitigate fiber loss and enhance their practical viability. These findings underscore both the potential and limitations of UCNT yarns in military textile applications.

The objective of this study is to investigate the performance of the ultrafiltration process as a purification method on the dyeing properties of a newly synthesized homobifunctional reactive dye. This is a green–blue reactive dye with two vinylsulfone groups. Namely, several properties, such as exhaustion, substantivity, fixation, time to half dyeing, migration index, light fastness, and the effect of metal salts, were studied thoroughly. It was proven that the processed bifunctional reactive dye shows higher exhaustion, substantivity, and dye-uptake values than the untreated one. It was found that the dye fixation is higher for the ultrafiltrated (92%) compared to the non-ultrafiltrated (85%) dye, while the migration index is slightly lower. It is indicated that, due to the possible chemical affinity between the dye and the substrate, a stronger retention is noticed for the treated dye. All in all, high fixation and substantivity lead to higher dye valorization and result in less hydrolyzed waste dyestuff, leading to less water and organic liquid waste at an industrial scale. The effect of metal salts addition (Fe3+, Co2+ and Cu2+) was studied as well, for comparison reasons, but it was found to be unnecessary. It is proven by the property values calculated that the overall process is valuable, since lower dyebath concentrations are required for satisfactory results. Thus, in large-scale dyeings, the ultrafiltration process can be proven to be valuable for environmental protection reasons.

The Shroud of Turin attracts consistently the interest of both the scientific community and the general public, as many believe that it is the burial cloth of Christ. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the relevant scientific research addressing two key questions: (i) how were the image of the human body and the bloodstains formed on the Shroud? (ii) What is the age of the Shroud? The answer to the first question remains a mystery, and the article explores the most promising hypotheses. Consequently, the scientific community should have another opportunity in the near future, similar to that of the 1978 STURP campaign, to study the object. The 1989 radiocarbon dating of the Shroud, which addressed the second question and suggested that the linen cloth dates to the 14th century AD, is discussed in light of hypotheses and experimental studies that have raised concerns and objections about the Shroud’s possible medieval origin. It is concluded that the evidence from the significant reports published to date, which challenge the radiocarbon dating, is insufficient to overturn its finding. However, extracting new samples from different parts of the object to perform a second series of radiocarbon dating measurements is suggested.