Mechanical Metamaterials in Textiles: Fabrication Strategies, Applications, and Future Directions

Abstract

Mechanically intelligent materials exhibit non-intuitive mechanical properties due to their microstructure design rather than inherent material composition, and have attracted extensive attention in multiple engineering fields. In recent years, integrating them with textile manufacturing has become a promising interdisciplinary frontier, potentially breaking through the performance limits of traditional textiles. However, there are still key gaps in the current research: a lack of systematic comparative analysis of the advantages, limitations, and application scenarios of the six mainstream fabrication techniques; the lack of comprehensive evaluation of the synergy effect between mechanical properties and electromagnetic functions; most studies are still at the laboratory proof-of-concept stage, with insufficient discussion of industrialisation challenges; and there is a lack of a unified multi-scale design framework covering fibres, yarns, and fabrics. To address these deficiencies, this paper reviews 150 high-quality papers (2009–2025) selected from Web of Science, Scopus, and TBIS conference proceedings, and analyses 102 core representative studies. It systematically summarises the latest progress in mechanical metamaterials based on textiles. This review indicates that the field has progressed from initial concept verification to functional prototype development; the six main fabrication methods (weaving, knitting, braiding, non-woven fabric, embroidery, and 3D printing) have significant trade-offs in manufacturing efficiency, structural accuracy, and production costs; current research and applications mainly focus on wearable sensors, protective equipment, comfort enhancement, and orthopaedic devices. The core mechanical properties pursued are negative Poisson’s ratio, adjustable stiffness, and shape reconfigurability. The paper further identifies four key bottlenecks hindering industrial application: the lack of a unified multi-scale design framework, the inherent limitations of existing manufacturing technologies, immature integration of multiple functions, and insufficient long-term durability verification under real environmental conditions. Future research should prioritise the development of multi-scale design methods for textiles, hybrid manufacturing technologies, stimulus-responsive intelligent materials, and large-scale, low-cost production solutions, providing comprehensive references for the design, manufacturing, and application of textile-based mechanical metamaterials and guiding further research and industrialisation in this field.