Photochromic poly(lactic acid)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon black nanoparticle composite strain-sensing yarn with coaxial hollow-core-sheath structure for multifunctional textiles

The development of multifunctional intelligent textiles has become an important innovation direction in the field of textile engineering, under the dual demands of intelligent health monitoring and environmental protection. Although single-functional textiles with antibacterial, photochromic, and strain-sensing properties have been developed, they are unable to meet the demand for multifunctional textiles. In this respect, this study developed a poly(lactic acid) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon black nanoparticle composite nanofiber yarn (PPTCY) with a hollow-core-sheath structure using a simple conjugate electrospinning technology. PPTCY possessed excellent mechanical strength and could be effectively woven. More importantly, it not only enabled real-time visual monitoring of ultraviolet (UV) intensity in the environment but also possessed excellent antibacterial properties and strain-sensing performance. Its ΔE value was up to 58.24, and its antibacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were both 99.99%. This fabric had excellent strain-sensing performance, high linearity, and durability under both pressure and stretching deformations. This research provides favorable technical support for the application of intelligent textiles in the field of UV protection and traffic safety.