Research progress in preparation technology of photochromic textiles
Photochromic textiles have a wide range of applications in the field of fashion and smart textiles due to the qualities of rapid light responsiveness and reversibility of reaction.The principle and classification of photochromic materials are summarized.We discussed the latest research progress of photochromic textile preparation technology including direct grafting,dyeing and printing,spinning,layer-by-layer self-assembly,and microencapsulation,and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of each method.Direct grafting method can precisely control the number of materials,but some methods need professional technology and equipment.Dyeing and printing method is simple and economical,suitable for mass production,but the dyes are easy to fade and may pollute the environment.Spinning method spins photochromic substances into the fibers,but the preparation process is complicated.Layer-by-layer self-assembly method can accurately control the structure of the materials and improve stability,but the preparation cycle is long and cumbersome.Microencapsulation can effectively isolate the materials,improve stability,and has the potential for mass production.Finally,the research and application progress of photochromic textiles in the fields of optical information storage and solar ultraviolet detection were briefly introduced.