Output details

Virtual colour: additive colour mixing on textiles with liquid crystal dye systems

The paper reports the results of practice-led research in the area of smart textiles/smart materials. The aim of the research was to explore the application of liquid crystal thermochromic dye systems to textiles from a technical and aesthetic perspective. The research was conducted at a time when there was little or no information on application of liquid crystals to textiles and the colour-changes achievable. Up until this point research in the area of smart textiles focused mainly on the development of the soft electronic systems that could be used to activate responsive surfaces. This meant that the aesthetic potential of such chromic materials was often overlooked. There was a need to explore thermochromic materials in a more rigorous way to understand their potential and limitations.

The approach to the research was formed largely by a technical investigation of the materials that was supported by LCR Hallcrest. Electronic systems were developed as tools to measure, record and visualize colour-change of specially coated and printed liquid crystal fabrics. A series of tests were carried out that formed core information between ambient temperature, voltage, time and colour-change. This information then informed how the materials could be used to develop prototypes that would demonstrate these new colour palettes on textiles.

This paper also describes further technical research based on the unique interaction of colour that was discovered which is aimed at understanding the additive colour mixing principles of the work. The paper highlights the historical use of liquid crystals in art that began in the 1960s and how these early insights informed an approach to using liquid crystals. This is the first publication in the area of smart textiles/materials that demonstrates (on textiles) the unique potential of the additive colour mixing properties of liquid crystal dye systems.