A team at the University of Maryland has developed a fabric that automatically adjusts temperature and humidity to make "smart" clothing.
The fabric is made of special yarns covered with conductive carbon nanotubes. The yarn consists of two composite materials, one that absorbs water and the other repels water. When the body sweats causing warmth and humidity, the fabric allows more heat radiation through. When it is cold and dry, the fabric can reduce heat escape.
In wet conditions, the fibers in the fabric will be curled, opening holes in the fabric, and changing the electromagnetic coupling effect of carbon nanotubes, giving the body heat radiation "release". This change can occur quickly and cool down before people realize the heat. Conversely, when hypothermia, this mechanism can block the heat radiation to achieve warmth.
Sino-US trade disputes provide an opportunity for Vietnam to increase its exports to the United States. Affected by the trade war, Chinese companies began plotting South-East Asia, including Vietnam for overseas markets. In the first 11 months of 2018, Vietnam's clothing exports to the United States reached $12.4 billion, up 9 percent from the same period last year.
At the beginning of the Sino-US trade war, Vietnam's textile industry was very worried that China's clothing exports to the United States were significantly reduced, which would lead to a sharp decline in China's imports of cotton yarn to Vietnam. But at present, the trade war does not have a negative impact on Vietnam cotton yarn to China's exports. Vietnam's exports of cotton yarn to China are expected to reach 780000 tons in 2018, up 9 percent year-on-year, according to Vietnam Customs. At the same time, Vietnam textile industry domestic and foreign investment also continues to increase.
In 2018, the total amount of yarn exports in Vietnam is expected to be 1.145 million tons,with an increase of 7% on a year-on-year basis, of which the export volume of cotton yarn is about 105 million tons. China, South Korea and Turkey are the biggest importers, accounting for over 80 percent of the total cotton exports in Vietnam. The decline in the Turkish exports to Turkey is completely offset by China and South Korea. Viet Nam will continue to expand its cotton exports to the above three countries with its geographical, cost and self-trade agreements.
In the past 2018, China's textile industry has achieved a smooth operation, the development trend is in line with expectations, and the trend of high quality development further appears. Statistics show that the textile industry export and domestic sales growth is better than 2017, pulling investment, benefit index rising steadily, supply-side structure adjustment and optimization, the adaptability and flexibility to macro environment and market demand are constantly improved. Although Sino-US trade friction continues to escalate, the short-term impact is limited, and the textile industry to achieve a smooth and healthy operation of the foundation still exists. But in the face of this complex situation, how to strengthen internal work, improve innovation ability, accelerate transformation and upgrade to resolve trade friction on the industry have become a key issue for textile enterprises in China, and it is an essential and important measure to carry out the construction of information technology in depth.
