Utilize Sunlight to Create Added Aesthetics

The second post relating to the content of my PhD thesis Thermochromic textiles and sunlight activating systems: an alternative means to induce colour change, focuses on dynamic aesthetics created by the use of laser technology and/or devoré print in combination with the colour change created by thermochromic dyes activated by sunlight.

The aim with this investigation was to answer the question as to whether sunlight, used to activate thermochromic leuco dyes that are printed on sun-screening textiles, could also be utilized in combination with surface treatments (devoré print and/or laser technology). The aim was to create additional aesthetic qualities and effects on the textile surfaces using a low-technology alternative approach to activation. Compared to conventional electrical heating mechanisms, the low technology alternative aimed to minimise the use of electronics and to ease recyclability of the design.

The main contributions of this particular investigations are the knowledge of how to utilize layering of laser technology treatments on thermochromic prints to create dynamic effects on large textile pieces in which not only the colour but also the imagery undergo change without additional energy supplies.

To find out more about how to utilize sunlight to create this type of added aesthetics for thermochromicly printed textiles see Sections 5.1-5.5 in Chapter 5 in my PhD thesis Thermochromic textiles and sunlight activating systems: an alternative means to induce colour change. Click here to download.

To read an overview of the whole thesis project, click here.