ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on fibres and fibre developments which affect routine investigations. The use of new resources to manufacture man-made fibres and the so called intelligent textiles or smart clothes will likely play a dominant role regarding the next generation of fibres, fabrics and ready made textile products. The phase change material (PCM) capsules can be found locked within fibres, in foams or the material might be coated with the PCM capsules. Ceramic particles are also used to enhance thermal effects in textiles. As ceramic fibres generally have industrial applications, they would only rarely appear in forensic contexts. The particles are fused into the fibres and can be found locked within the fibres. Multi-layer systems have been in use since the 1980s. Textiles that utilize a layering system to wick away moisture incorporate fibres in the fabric with water absorbing polymer fibres. Alginate fibres are produced on the base of cellulose. As natural polymers, they are biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic.
