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ISSN 2277-7156
Review Article
ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE FIBRE SUBSTRATES
Arup K. Rakshit & Manisha A. Hira
Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai 400 019
Email: akrakshit@vjti.org.in, man.neeraja@gmail.com
Received 17 July 2014; accepted 07 August 2014
Abstract
Textiles are an aggregation of fibres in various forms and fibres are made up of polymeric chains that are little known to
conduct electricity. However, these offer advantage of flexibility and ease of making-up, hence have found their way to
make conductive material. The term electro-textiles, known as E-textiles, refer to fabrics that can function electrically as
electronics and behave physically as textiles. The paper discusses the basics of conductivity in solids, especially metals and
fibres like carbon. It then reviews the various techniques that have been adopted to improve the electrical conductivity of
fibre substrates viz., use of conductive materials as fibres, yarns or threads, coating with conductive materials and using an
inherently conductive material/polymer. The advantages and limitations of each of the methods have been discussed.
Further the paper highlights the categories of conductive fibre substrates based on their electrical resistance and the various
applications they can be used for.
2014 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
Keywords: Electrical conductivity, textiles, carbon, metallic yarns, coating, carbon nanotubes, graphene woven fabrics.
1. INTRODUCTION
Fibre substrates are thought of as a composition of
polymeric chains having high resistance to flow of current.
These are however characterized with flexibility and ease
of making up. In the later part of the twentieth century,
research was directed towards integrating smart materials
into textiles, making them suitable for functional
performance. The branch of smart materials emerged with
this. These are textiles that would sense and react to the
environmental stimuli. The stimuli could be mechanical,
thermal, chemical electrical or magnetic. Such smart
materials are categorized as passive smart materials and
active smart materials. The passive materials only sense the
stimuli; for example a built in thermistor in a shirt would
log body temperature over time. An active smart material
on the other hand would not just sense the stimulus like
temperature, but may also respond to it. As an example,
with an active smart material incorporated in the shirt, not
only temperature would be sensed, but also the shirt sleeves
may be rolled up, if temperature rises beyond a particular
limit. The fundamental components of smart materials are
sensors and actuators. Interconnectivity between sensors
and actuators can be established by incorporating electrical
conductivity in flexible and comfortable textile material.
The term electro-textiles, known as E-textiles, refers to
fabrics that can function electrically as electronics and
behave physically as textiles. E-textiles are located in the
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iii.
Using an inherently conductive material/polymer
In clothing, comfort is a requirement so conductive yarns
have to remain flexible and soft whilst maintaining their
conductive function.
3.1
Use of conductive materials as fibres, yarns or
threads
Metals are the most conductive materials on earth. They are
endowed with ductility and flexibility too. Historically
metallic threads like gold, silver copper have been used for
beautification and embroidery on textile fabrics[8]. The
similar metallic threads can be used to derive electrical
conductivity in textiles.
Metals are superior in strength and fineness, and
textiles are selected for comfort. In order to produce a
successful conductive yarn, the best mix of conductive and
non-conductive materials is critical. As a thread takes on a
bigger portion of conductive components, it loses the
typical textile properties such as flexibility or drapability
and becomes more conductive. Many patents[8-10] have
been granted and much experimental research has been
conducted to produce a good conductive yarn. Conductive
fibres like silver, copper, stainless steel, nickel have been
some of the fibres used in this development.
Metal fibres can be incorporated in the textile yarns or
fabric structures in various ways. Few of the methods are
depicted below:
i) Metal-wrapped yarns is a composite of metal and
textile yarn. A conductive metallic yarn is wrapped
with one or more strands of non-conductive textile
filaments. (fig.4)
ii) Metal filled yarns are obtained by having a fine metal
wire as core covered with non-conductive fibres. The
textile covering protects the core metal and helps it to
withstand physical stresses and provides insulation.
iii) The third type is one wherein the metal fibre does not
form the core, rather it replaces one or entire strands in
the plied yarns.
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