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CONDUCTIVE YARN /METAL COATED FIBER + CONDUCTIVE FIBER-FILM NEWS

 

Global Conductive Fibers Market Explosive Growth Forecasted to Reach US$ 4.9 Billion by 2031 Fueled by Athlete-driven Wearable Electronics Demand and Consumer Electronics Boom

Sales in the global conductive fibers market are slated to top US$ 1.8 Billion in 2022. Expanding at a healthy 11.6% CAGR, the market size is projected to total US$ 4.9 Billion by 2031.

Conductive fibers recorded volume sales of approximately 42 thousand tons, equating to a value of US$ 1.8 billion in 2022. As per the insights culled by the latest report of Future Market Insights (FMI), the global Conductive Fibers Market is likely to spectate high growth over the course of the forecast period, driven by a plethora of factors.

The growth in sales can be attributed to the increasing use of conductive fibers in electromagnetic shielding, in light of growing electromagnetic pollution with the near-ubiquitous use of smartphones, smartwatches, and similar electronic devices.    more

The Sophisticated Threads behind a Hat That Senses Traffic Lights

A new technique to make electronic fibers could help solve wearable technology’s flexibility problem

A team of electrical engineers and fabrics scientists has invented a hat that tells its wearer when it’s safe to cross the road. The researchers’ proof-of-concept beanie is knitted with germanium fibers that can sense changing traffic lights—and tell pedestrians with visual impairments when they’re clear to walk. This prototype shows how fibers with a semiconductor core can be woven into functional garments that gather, process and store information, and it may one day lead to computers that can be worn like clothes.   more

 

What conductive materials are non-toxic to aquatic life? 

 

There are conductive materials that are non-toxic to aquatic life. One such material is an aquaculture reservoir liner made from ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, cured with a curing agent and at least one thiazole accelerator and either a dithiocarbamate accelerator or a guanidine accelerator [1]. Another material is a base material with high durability used for electrochemically controlling an aquatic organism. It consists of a sticky layer, a conductive fiber layer, and a conductive resin layer formed by filling conductive fine particles in the resin [2]. Additionally, an electrically conductive layer with a copolymer resin containing vinyl chloride, vinyl ester of carboxylic acid, and vinyl alcohol can resist the electrolytic action of seawater and prevent contamination by oceanic life [3]. Finally, a polymeric piezoelectric membrane installed on an aquatic structural material can prevent attachment of underwater organisms by generating rocking to the fine fiber naps on the material [4].   More—citations also in this link

 

Inherently integrated microfiber-based flexible proprioceptive sensor for feedback-controlled soft actuators

For the accurate and continuous control of soft actuators in dynamic environments, the movements of the soft actuators must be monitored in real-time. To this end, various soft actuators capable of self-monitoring have been developed by separately integrating sensing devices into actuators. However, integrating such heterogeneous sensing components into soft actuators results in structural complexity, high manufacturing costs, and poor interfacial stability. Here, we report on intelligent pneumatic fiber-reinforced soft actuators with an inherent flexible proprioceptive sensor that uses only the essential components of typical fiber-reinforced soft actuators. The inherent flexible proprioceptive sensor is achieved by leveraging two parallel conductive microfibers around an elastomeric chamber of the soft actuator, which simultaneously acts as both a capacitive bending sensor and radial expansion limiting fibers of typical fiber-reinforced soft actuators.   more

 

Engineers Develop High-Performance Flexible Semiconductor Fibers for Smart Clothing

   team of engineers developed a type of conductive fiber that can be woven into clothes to give them smart device capabilities

  The study is published in Nature, with a News & Views piece outlining the work by the team

  The advent of smart clothing has been predicted for years, but this new technology represents a significant advancement in that direction   more

 

D’Angelo Technologies invents self-healing wire insulation.
This is an exciting development—especially for critical wiring in hard-to-reach or inspect places!  Military, space, marine and aircraft should be especially interested. (ed.)

Wiring insulation and conductors are susceptible to aging, damage (due to abrasion, maintenance, and inspection), and degradation (due to the environment and chemical exposure). These issues affect major systems including those found in aircraft, buildings, and automobiles.
PATCH is a multipurpose solution for electrical and surface protection which works as a temporary fix to maintain conductivity in mission critical systems.    
#Self-HealingWire

Contact https://dangelotech.com/

 

Development of novel paper-based supercapacitor electrode material by combining copper-cellulose fibers with polyaniline

Along with the developing of flexible electronics, there is a strong interest in high performance flexible energy storage materials. As natural carbohydrate polymer, cellulose fibers have potential applications in the area due to their biodegradability and flexibility. However, their conductive and electrochemical properties are impossible to meet the demands of practical applications. In this study, cellulose fibers were combined with polyaniline to develop novel paper-based supercapacitor electrode material.  more

 

Fiber Batteries Market Will Hit Massive Growth in Near Future to reach $422.1 million by 2031

In a world increasingly hungry for sustainable energy solutions, researchers and innovators are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Among the latest breakthroughs in energy storage technology, fibre batteries are emerging as a promising contender, poised to revolutionize how we power everything from our smartphones to electric vehicles and beyond.

The fibre batteries market size was valued at $62.5 million in 2021, and fibre batteries industry is estimated to reach $422.1 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 21.1% from 2022 to 2031.   more

 

 

Win-Win on both ion-conducting and mechanical properties achieved in PEO-based solid electrolytes through microstructure regulation

Solid state electrolytes are of great importance in the design of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASLMBs) that with excellent properties and glorious working stability. And solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are the attention-getting candidate, because of its flexibility lightweight and suitable ionic transportation ability. However, current SPEs always need balance between ionic conductivity (σ) and the mechanical strength.  more

 

High-performance stretchable solar cells

 

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)  Engineers have succeeded in implementing a stretchable organic solar cell by applying a newly developed polymer material that demonstrated the world's highest photovoltaic conversion efficiency (19%) while functioning even when stretched for more than 40% of its original state. This new conductive polymer has high photovoltaic properties that can be stretched like rubber. The newly developed polymer is expected to play a role as a power source for next-generation wearable electronic devices.

 

 

Conductive, cotton-based fiber for smart textiles 

Washington State University has developed a single strand of fiber that has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of a polymer, called polyaniline.

The newly developed fiber showed good potential for wearable e-textiles. The WSU researchers tested the fibers with a system that powered an LED light and another that sensed ammonia gas, detailing their findings in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers.   more    also 

 

Adding a small amount of solid carbon to copper boosts its conductivity

A common carbon compound enables remarkable performance enhancements when mixed in just the right proportion with copper to make electrical wires. It's a phenomenon that defies conventional wisdom about how metals conduct electricity.  The findings, reported in the journal Materials & Design, could lead to more efficient electricity distribution to homes and businesses, as well as more efficient motors to power electric vehicles and industrial equipment. The team has applied for a patent for the work, which was supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office.    more

 

Electrocharged Fibers Spark Stem Cells for Bone Repair 

 

Piezoelectric, battery-free textiles offer hope for stubborn fractures.  

Broken bones can be an incredibly painful experience, but they also signal the start of a healing process that, for some patients, takes far too long to happen. In healthy patients with a bone fracture, after about two weeks, bodies begin to fill in the break with new bone cells—called osteoblasts. However, disease or trauma can make this natural healing process very difficult or even in some cases impossible.   more

 

 

Researchers develop rGO-enhanced structural supercapacitor

We’re seeing real progress in our vision to infuse circuits into conductive fibers.  (ed.)

Researchers from the University of California San Diego and the University of Southern Mississippi recently designed a graphene-enhanced structural supercapacitor. Structural supercapacitors hold promise to expand the energy capacity of a system by integrating load-bearing and energy-storage functions in a multifunctional structure, resulting in weight savings and safety improvements. 

As a proof of concept, the researchers used their structural supercapacitor to build a miniature solar-powered boat. The supercapacitor was molded to form the boat’s hull and then fitted with a small motor and circuit. The circuit was connected to a solar cell. When exposed to sunlight, the solar cell charges the supercapacitor, which in turn powers the boat’s motor. In tests, the boat was able to cruise across the water, demonstrating the efficacy of this innovative energy storage solution.   more     Also related article here

 

What if a car frame, boat hull, or phone case could store energy

Using a clever combination of materials and design, engineers have made a battery-like device that is strong enough to provide mechanical support.

 

A new battery-like energy-storing device is also tough enough to provide protection and mechanical support. The device could lead to extra power stored in structures such as phone cases, electric vehicle frames and ship hulls.

That would mean EVs that drive longer between charges, powered partly by the material they are built from. “This can extend the operational time of electronic systems, like in submersibles for ocean explorations or in consumer electronics—imagine longer operating time for airpods,” says Tina Ng, a materials science and engineering professor at the University of California San Diego.

The device that Ng and her colleagues reported in the journal Science Advances is a supercapacitor. Much like batteries, supercapacitors are energy-storing devices with two electrodes and an electrolyte. The two devices complement each other, because batteries can deliver energy for a long time, while supercapacitors provide quick bursts of power for things like acceleration.

Both types of devices hold a limited amount of charge, though. So researchers have been trying to find ways to integrate batteries and supercapacitors into building materials for low-cost technologies to store energy.

Carbon fibers are a promising material for this because they are strong and durable, and they can also conduct electricity. Carbon fiber laminates are commonly used to make boat hulls already, so adding energy storage capacity to them was a logical step, Ng says.   more 

 

Bioengineers Develop Spider Web-Inspired Method to Fabricate Conductive Fibers

Advance could lead to energy-efficient, low-cost smart textiles

Using a new process that mimics how spiders spin silk, a UCLA-led team of multi-institutional bioengineers has developed a simple process to make soft, electrically conductive fibers at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.  In a study published as a cover story in Nature Electronics, the researchers demonstrated their technique with a sensing glove and a smart face mask made with the stretchable and durable fabrics. The glove can sense temperatures and hand motions for the user to play a “rock-paper-scissors” computer game, while the mask is able to monitor the individual’s breathing patterns. more

 

Carlisle Companies said that it would sell its wire and cable unit, Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (Micro-Coax).

The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based building products company said it would begin the sales process for CIT, which makes optical fiber for commercial aerospace, defense and medical purposes.  more

 

Electrically Conductive MXene-Coated Glass Fibers for Damage Monitoring in Fiber-Reinforced Composites                   View PDF

 

Stretchable and self-healing conductive fibers from hierarchical silver nanowires-assembled network

Conductive fibers (CFs) with features of high conductivity, stretchability, self-healability, and electromechanical stability are key components of the increasingly popular wearable electronics. However, since the lack of structural design of conductive network and interfacial interaction between soft polymer and conductive additives, it is still hard to enable CFs to meet above requirements. Here, we describe    (MORE) 

 

Scientists develop cheaper, more sustainable way to make smart fabrics

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom — There is a new way to create sustainable and affordable “smart” fabrics that adapt to their environment, according to researchers. An international team, led by scientists at the University of Cambridge, combined electronic, optoelectronic, sensing, and energy fiber components to develop smart fabrics that can sense and respond to their external environment.

They developed these materials using….   (more)

 

3D printed elastic conductors for stretchable electronics

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has become increasingly advanced over the past few years and has been successfully used to create countless items, including toys, furniture and electronic components. As 3D printing equipment becomes more affordable, it could potentially also be used to fabricate soft electronic components for wearable devices.   more

Interfacial Capillary Spooling of Conductive Polyurethane–Silver Core–Sheath (PU@Ag) Microfibers for Highly Stretchable Interconnects

Conductive fibers are core materials in textile electronics for the sustainable operation of devices under mechanical stimuli. Conventional polymer–metal core–sheath fibers were employed as stretchable electrical interconnects. However, their electrical conductivity is severely degraded by the rupture of metal sheaths at low strains. Because the core–sheath fibers are not intrinsically stretchable, designing a stretchable architecture of interconnects based on the fibers is essential. Herein, we introduce nonvolatile droplet–conductive microfiber arrays as stretchable interconnects by employing interfacial capillary spooling, motivated by the reversible spooling of capture threads in a spider web.   (more)

Highly Conductive, Ultrastrong, and Flexible Wet-Spun PEDOT:PSS/Ionic Liquid Fibers for Wearable Electronics

Conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) fibers with high electrical conductivity, flexibility, and robustness are urgently needed for constructing wearable fiber-based electronics. In this study, the highly conductive (4288 S/cm), ultrastrong (a high tensile strength of 956 MPa), and flexible (a low Young’s modulus of 3.8 GPa) PEDOT:PSS/1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide (EMIM:DCA) (P/ED) fiber was prepared by wet-spinning and a subsequent H2SO4-immersion–drawing process.   (MORE)

 

Strain-Insensitive Stretchable Fiber Conductors Based on Highly Conductive Buckled Shells for Wearable Electronics

Based on their high applicability to wearable electronics, fiber-based stretchable electronics have been developed via different strategies. However, the electrical conductivity of a fiber electrode is severely degraded, following deformation upon stretching. Despite the introduction of conductive buckled structures to resolve this issue, there still exist limitations regarding the simultaneous realizations of high conductivity and stretchability. Here, we exploit the dense distribution of  (more)

 

Researchers Design Battery Prototype With Fiber-Shaped Cathode

In a new study, North Carolina State University researchers made a cathode, or the positive end of a battery, in the shape of a thread-like fiber. The researchers were then able to use the fiber to create a zinc-ion battery prototype that could power a wrist watch.  Published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, the proof-of-concept study is a step forward in the development of a fiber-shaped battery that could ultimately be integrated into garments.   (MORE)

Metal Fibers Market Will Accelerate at a CAGR of over 4.8% through 2023-2033   The Metal Fibers Market was estimated to be worth USD 6.9 Bn. 2023. It will grow at a rate of 4.8% and is expected to reach USD 9.58 Bn. By 2033./EINPresswire.com/ -- Metal Fibers Market Overview
The Metal Fiber market report is a comprehensive analysis of the industry, Metal Fiber market, and key players. The report segments both the supply and demand sides of the market. Global Metal Fiber research also contains a market landscape and trends by technology, investment, and market segments.   (more)  1/2023

For job seekers, Textile Career Center is a great tool to find a variety of jobs within the textile industry and gives you access to a learning center, reference checking, resume writing and career coaching.  Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), Textile Career Center|Find Your Career Here

 

Simulation of electrical conductivity for polymer silver nanowires systems

A simple model is developed for the conductivity of polymeric systems including silver nanowires (AgNWs). This model reveals the effects of interphase thickness, tunneling distance, waviness and aspect ratio of nanowires, as well as effective filler volume fraction on the percolation and electrical conductivity of AgNW-reinforced samples. The validity of this model is tested by using the measured data from several samples. Based on this model, the conductivity calculations are in proper accordance with the measured values. A large network and a low percolation onset are produced by nanowires with a high aspect ratio developing the nanocomposite conductivity. The results also show that a thicker interphase expands the network, thereby increasing the electrical conductivity. Furthermore, non-waved AgNWs exhibit more conductivity compared to wavy nanowires. It is concluded that the surface energies of polymer medium and nanowires have no effect on the conductivity of samples. On the other hand, the volume fraction and aspect ratio of nanowires, in addition to the interphase thickness and tunneling distance have the greatest influences on the conductivity of nanocomposites.   (more)

 

This New Device Can Suck Water Out Of Thin Air And Give You Hydrogen FuelAccording to a new study, a small circular device inspired by a leaf may absorb water from the air to provide a clean energy source. The “transparent porous conductive substrate” (TPCS) is a tiny circle of compressed glass fiber coated with a light-absorbing thin coating. When exposed to sunlight, the device absorbs water from the air and creates hydrogen gas, which might be utilized as fuel. The hydrogen gas could be extracted and stored in large facilities and used when needed, such as for powering cars or heating homes, researchers say.  (more)

Cure Monitoring of Carbon Fiber Composites with Dielectric Sensors

Despite this limitation, it is feasible to use filtered or coated sensors to cure monitor carbon fiber reinforced prepreg (CFRP), carbon fiber sheet molding compound (CF-SMC), and related composites.  (more)

A Self-Healing Structural Composite

Jason Patrick, assistant professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University, and his team have developed a new composite material for applications like airplane wings and wind turbine blades in which hidden defects and damage can self-heal.  (more)

A Janus carbon electrocatalyst can balance the intrinsic activity and electronic conductivity

Read more here, and get pdf

CFMC MEMBERSHIP

CFMC is built around three core constituencies: (1) Manufacturers, (2) Academic and Research and Development members, and (3) Application users or customers of conductive fibers. We offer three levels of membership to accommodate these constituencies: active, associate, and allied.

Isn't it time you joined?  Contact us for Membership Information

Preparation of Palladium/Silver-Coated Polyimide Nanotubes: Flexible, Electrically Conductive Fibers

A simple and practical method for coating palladium/silver nanoparticles on polyimide (PI) nanotubes is developed. The key steps involved in the process are silver ion exchange/reduction and displacement reactions between silver and palladium ions. With the addition of silver, the conductivity of the PI nanotubes is greatly enhanced. Further, the polyimide nanotubes with a dense, homogeneous coating of palladium nanoparticles remain flexible after heat treatment and show the possibility for use as highly efficient catalysts. The approach developed here is applicable for coating various noble metals on a wide range of polymer matrices, and can be used for obtaining polyimide nanotubes with metal loaded on both the inner and outer surface.  (source)

Conductive Stainless Fibers Market 2021 Emerging Trend and Advancement Outlook 2026

The Conductive Stainless Fibers research provides a thorough and all-encompassing view of the global industry. The comprehensive research report includes essential data, as well as the market size and share of the global Conductive Stainless Fibers industry. Furthermore, the research report provides a clear description of elements influencing the development of the Conductive Stainless Fibers market, such as drivers, technological advancements, and current market conditions, among others. It also provides insight into the market’s past and expected future (market size in terms of revenue (in US$ Mn) and volume (thousand units)).

The latest Conductive Stainless Fibers market research report entails a detailed analysis of all the driving and limiting factors influencing the industry’s revenue flow over the analysis duration. It reviews the past and present trends to carefully assess the potential of the market.  More

 

 

Most of our members check out companies and contacts on LinkedIn.   Are you on LinkedIn?    you can find CFMC's founder at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truxmarketing/

 

Effects of different aggregate and conductive components on the electrically conductive asphalt concrete's properties

(ed: a little out of our realm, but I found this interesting.)   more here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10298436.2022.2068547

IFAI Selects Advanced Textiles Association As New Name
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has chosen a new name, the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), effective June 1.

The name change was approved in April with 85.6 percent of association members casting their votes to do so. Per our bylaws, a two-thirds affirmative vote of those returning ballots is needed for approval. The results were audited by Clifton Larson Allen.

"This is an exciting time for our great association," said IFAI Chairman Amy Bircher. "President and CEO Steve Schiffman and his staff have worked hard to meet the needs of our members in finding a name that reflects the vision for our future while still honoring the past and recognizing the importance of our history."

The new name, Advanced Textiles Association, reflects the evolving textile industry and is designed to position the association to meet the needs of its members and the industry as a whole. IFAI's Board of Directors, staff and industry partners have been researching the IFAI brand for over a year, with the goal of ensuring the association is well-positioned for the future.

"There has been discussion about a name change for several years at the Board of Directors level," said President and CEO Steve Schiffman. "We wanted a name that is more inclusive, easier to remember, and reflects advances in and the future of all the industries we currently serve and will serve in the future."

That market research and discussion with members found the need for a new brand. After more than 40 years as IFAI, the updated name not only speaks to those core markets, but also reflects the fact that members are working in markets that may not be readily identified as "industrial fabrics." We are working on rebranding to match our new name and we are excited to share it with the industry soon!

Visit and bookmark our new website URL Textiles.org on June 1, www.ifai.com will continue to be accessible during the transition to www.Textiles.org. Check back for updates on the launch of our new brand.

AATCC standards are developed, specified, and performed around the world.  Volume 97 of The AATCC International Manual of Test Methods and Procedures will be available beginning January 2022.  USB editions and PDF versions of individual standards will be available on January 4, 2022.  The hardbound version will be available for purchase after January 15, 2022. To purchase a 2022 Technical Manual, click here for the USB version or here for the hardbound book. You can also email ordering@aatcc.org to purchase a Technical Manual.

Noble Biomaterials’ Circuitex Shielding Technology Protects Against Directed Energy Attacks

SCRANTON, Pa. — November 9, 2021 — Noble Biomaterials, creator of conductive energy textiles and advanced antimicrobial systems, announces today that its Circuitex fabric and foam technologies are proven to reflect high-frequency energy waves similar to those suspected in Havana Syndrome attacks and produced by directed-energy weapons (DEW).  more

Likely Drone Attack On U.S. Power Grid Revealed In New Intelligence Report

An apparent attack on a power substation in Pennsylvania underscores the very real threat drones pose to domestic critical infrastructure.  U.S. officials believe that a DJI Mavic 2, a small quadcopter-type drone, with a thick copper wire attached underneath it via nylon cords was likely at the center of an attempted attack on a power substation in Pennsylvania last year. An internal U.S. government report issued last month says this is the first time such an incident has been officially assessed as a possible drone attack on energy infrastructure in the United States, but that this is likely to become more commonplace as time goes on.   more

LORIX Conductive Tapes available, with or without conductive adhesives.

Editorial content:  We visited Lorix in Hungary recently , a wonderful company related to Shieldex.  Lorix has two exciting products we have not seen before--conductive adhesive tapes.  One of the tapes has a conductive adhesive on it for total conductivity between the tape and the metal product it is applied to.  The other tape provides total insulation of the conductive surface and the material to which it is applied.  These tapes can be produced in custom widths.  Contact Lorix for more information about your needs.

 

Smart Textiles Market worth $6.6 billion by 2026 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets™

CHICAGO, Oct. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Smart Textiles Market with COVID-19 impact analysis by Type (Passive, Active/Ultra-smart), Function (Sensing, Energy Harvesting & Thermo-electricity, Luminescence & Aesthetics), Vertical, & Geography - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets™, the Smart Textiles Market is expected to grow from USD 2.3 billion in 2021 to USD 6.6 billion by 2026; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.2% during the forecast period. The major driving factors for the growth of the smart textiles market include implementation of advanced technologies in smart textiles, miniaturization of electronic components, and expanding wearable industry among others.  Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=13764132

Panasonic launches novel substrate film enabling the development of soft printed electronics

Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company of America, a division of the Panasonic Corporation of North America, through its Electronic Materials Division, is introducing BEYOLEX, a new thermoset stretchable film for printed electronics. This novel material is based on a proprietary non-silicone thermoset polymer chemistry developed by Panasonic researchers at the Electronic Materials laboratory in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan.    more

Could Wood Replace Our Need for Wires?

Amazing idea--ed.

Functionalization—the scientific term for the addition of new functions to an existing material—is a common technique in materials science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. In architecture, function is often considered at an assembly, system, or spatial level. Although functionalization research commonly involves polymers, glass, and metal oxides, some researchers and designers are adding new functions to wood. In this case, function is added to the wood itself by surface manipulations. The approach is used to modify characteristics like color, hydrophobicity, magnetism, and antimicrobial properties, often transforming the material. more

The US Department of Energy announced Stage 1 winners of the Conductivity-enhanced materials for Affordable, Breakthrough Leapfrog Electric and thermal applications (CABLE) Conductor Manufacturing Prize. The 10 teams selected in Stage 1 of this $4.5-million, three-stage competition will work to develop affordable, manufacturable materials that conduct electricity more efficiently and upgrade the US manufacturing and transportation infrastructures.    more

 

Smart electronic fabric: the "little nurse" worn on the body

Our daily lives are increasingly inseparable from electronic terminal equipment such as computers and mobile phones. With the development of emerging strategic industries such as the next generation of mobile information networks and smart health, new wearable electronic terminals have become a major trend in future technology development.   more

 

Carbon Fiber Sensors Show How Our Body Moves

Scientists at the University of Groningen have created wearable, stitchable, and sensitive sensors from flexible polymers and bundles of carbon fibre. Like our skin, these sensors respond to pressure and can measure body position and movement. They could be used to measure disease progress in Parkinson’s disease, or sense joint movement in athletes, for example.   more

 

Stronger than spider silk: Bagworm silk enables strong conducting fibers

Think spider silk is strong? Recent work has shown that bagworm silk is superior to spider silk in both strength and flexibility. Building on these findings, a research team at the University of Tsukuba, led by Professor Hiromasa Goto, has harnessed the strength of bagworm silk to produce a strong, flexible, conductive fiber. This research may lead to new flexible electronic devices, such as wearable electronic materials.

Owing to its high flexibility and strength, spider silk has received much attention for uses ranging from medicine to aerospace applications. By combining natural silk, such as spider silk, with synthetic conductive polymers, researchers can produce textiles with conduction, light emission, and photovoltaic functions. It is also possible to create biocompatible materials that can be used in regenerative medicine and biomedical materials. "We've taken the next step from previous research efforts by utilizing the strongest known natural fiber—bagworm silk," explains Professor Goto.   more

Forget wearables: Future washable smart clothes powered by Wi-Fi will monitor your health

Purdue University engineers have developed a method to transform existing cloth items into battery-free wearables resistant to laundry. These smart clothes are powered wirelessly through a flexible, silk-based coil sewn on the textile.

In the near future, all your clothes will become smart. These smart cloths will outperform conventional passive garments, thanks to their miniaturized electronic circuits and sensors, which will allow you to seamlessly communicate with your phone, computer, car and other machines. This smart clothing will not only make you more productive but also check on your health status and even call for help if you suffer an accident. The reason why this smart clothing is not all over your closet yet is that the fabrication of this smart clothing is quite challenging, as clothes need to be periodically washed and electronics despise water.   more

Counterfeiting: A Global Fake Out

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., USA, July 20, 2021-Counterfeiting and piracy are global issues. The United States, France, Switzerland, and Germany were most affected by counterfeiting activity in a 2016 study; however, increases were noted in Singapore, Hong Kong, Brazil, China, and other emerging markets. (OECD, 2019) Countries worldwide are impacted by product fakes in the marketplace.

Counterfeit comes with high economic and monetary losses. It is estimated that counterfeit goods in the US alone cost the economy US$600 Billion per year, which is roughly 3% of Gross Domestic Product. (Schlesinger, 2019) According to the Trends in Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods report issued by OECD.org, in the European Union alone, counterfeit trade represented 6.8% of imports from non-EU countries. These figures do not include domestically produced counterfeit goods or pirated products distributed over the Internet. (OECD, 2019)

Electrospun liquid crystal elastomer microfiber actuator

Fibers capable of generating axial contraction are commonly seen in nature and engineering applications. Despite the broad applications of fiber actuators, it is still very challenging to fabricate fiber actuators with combined large actuation strain, fast response speed, and high power density.  more

 

A building as a battery’: Swedish invention of a rechargeable battery in cement

Researchers at Chalmers University in Sweden have developed a rechargeable battery built into cement. It should become a construction material of the future.   more

Army uniforms with embedded sensors soon could track soldier body’s signals to monitor warfighter health

The (almost) ultimate in connectedness.

Researchers found that fiber sewed in the armpit of a shirt could determine with 96 percent accuracy the activity of the user while wearing the shirt.   read more

ESA seeks ways to make spacesuit underclothes more hygienic 

The European Space Agency (ESA) wants a more hygienic kind of underclothing worn by astronauts in their spacesuits. The ESA reports that the Austrian Space Forum will work with the Vienna Textile Lab on the BACTeRMA project to test textiles with improved anti-bacterial properties for spacesuits. Read more 

We usually don't feature products here, but here are sme interesitng uses for conductive fibers:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/686728643183400900/

With global warming, sun shading will be increasingly valuable.  Hope someone will incpopratate photovoltaic fibers into sunshades

Messe Stuttgart's Sun Shading Expo North America move Co-location Debut with IFAI Expo to 2022

ROSEVILLE, MN-Messe Stuttgart announced that their new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more.

IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place Nov. 2-4, 2021, with education on Nov. 1-4, in Nashville, TN, USA at the Music City Convention Center.  IFAI Expo, the leading trade fair for specialty fabrics and technical textiles will celebrate its 100th in-person anniversary Nov. 2-4, 2021, with education on Nov. 1-4, in Nashville, TN USA. The concept for cooperation with Messe Stuttgart will also be presented live at IFAI Expo in November.

"A large number of international R+T exhibitors have already shown their interest in the North American market. In our capacity as a professional trade fair organizer, our objective is to offer all participants planning security in particular along with a high-quality and successful presentation platform. After analyzing the currently valid general conditions and in view of the long-term success of the new trade fair brand, we decided to stage Sun Shading Expo North America as a co-location to IFAI Expo 2022," said Roland Bleinroth, President of Messe Stuttgart.

The premiere of Sun Shading Expo North America will be held Oct. 12-14, 2022 co-locating with IFAI Expo 2022 in Charlotte, NC USA. Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) President and CEO Steve Schiffman added: "We are looking forward to long-term collaboration between IFAI Expo and Sun Shading Expo North America. Our 100th anniversary of IFAI Expo is the ideal framework to celebrate this partnership and start the development of a strong cross-industry network between the customers of both events."

The planned conference program of Sun Shading Expo North America during IFAI Expo 2021 will be announced shortly. Further information is available at www.sunshadingexpo.com.

Click here to view the official announcement from Sun Shading Expo North America.

 

Smart fabrics and self-powered sensing

Smart fabrics and wearable electronics can be developed using highly conductive and stretchy fibers. Most of these fiber conductors are, however, strain sensitive with limited conductance on stretching. As a result, a new strategy can be introduced by rearranging the geometry of the conductive path for stable conductance. In a new report now published on Science Advances, Lijing Zheng and colleagues in China and Germany, more...

Inkjet Printing Shows Promise As New Strategy For Making E-Textiles, Study Finds

In a new study, North Carolina State University researchers demonstrated they could print layers of electrically conductive ink on polyester fabric to make an e-textile that could be used in the design of future wearable devices.   more

Safer EV batteries with Kevlar MicroCore

Kevlar MicroCore is a highly temperature-resistant, superfine fibre material for use in battery separators to help address the demand for safer, more effective Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles.    more

 

A stretchable and suturable fiber sensor to monitor biomechanical tissue strain

by Ingrid Fadelli , Tech Xplore

Implantable electronics are among the most promising healthcare technologies, as they can help to remotely monitor specific biological processes associated with a patient's health. While researchers have developed a variety of implantable devices over the past decade or so, existing technologies have several limitations that can prevent their widespread use in clinical settings.  more

New Futuristic Electronic Textile That Works Like A Smartphone

Chinese scientists have developed a new solar-powered fabric that works like a smartphone and could have navigation, communications, safety, and healthcare applications. The futuristic garment could improve safety for emergency responders, motorists, and cyclists. For example, a jacket could display a ‘textile map’ on the sleeve—instantly.   more

MIT develops smart clothing able to measure movement

One area of development worldwide is wearable technology running the gamut from smartwatches that can measure all sorts of metrics for human movement and health to clothing able to monitor human vital signs without having to touch the wearer. MIT researchers have now created clothing that uses special fibers to sense a person’s movement via touch. The smart fibers can determine if the person wearing the clothing is sitting, walking, or performing particular poses.   more

Reversible fusion-fission fibers
Summary
Materials scientists have long used highly coveted biomimetic techniques in the search for synthetic structural materials that resemble muscles and other natural fibers (1). Among these techniques, self-assembly processes inspired by cell fusion are gaining notoriety (2). Within biological systems, fission occurs when one entity can separate into two or more parts, and the opposite process, fusion, occurs when two or more parts merge into one object (3). These processes can be naturally triggered by stimuli present in the environment—such as light, temperature, or humidity—but are ultimately controlled by the organism's own metabolism. On page 614 of this issue, Chang et al. (4) demonstrate the assembly of wet-spun graphene oxide (GO) microfibers through a reversible solvent-triggered process, which is regulated by the individual fiber's chemistry and morphology, mimicking biological fusion.   http://www.sciencemag.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuse

Washability of E-Textiles: Failure Modes and Influences on Washing Reliability

Abstract

E-textiles, hybrid products that incorporate electronic functionality into textiles, often need to withstand washing procedures to ensure textile typical usability. Yet, the washability—which is essential for many e-textile applications like medical or sports due to hygiene requirements—is often still insufficient. The influence factors for washing damage in textile integrated electronics as well as common weak points are not extensively researched, which makes a targeted approach to improve washability in e-textiles difficult. As a step towards reliably washable e-textiles, this review bundles existing information and findings on the topic: a summary of common failure modes in e-textiles brought about by washing as well as influencing parameters that affect the washability of e-textiles. The findings of this paper can be utilized in the development of e-textile systems with an improved washability. View Full-Text

Myant Inc., and CarlisleIT Announce Strategic Partnership for Next Generation Conductive Yarns and The Future of Textile Computing

read more: 

Who are the key end-users of the Conductive Yarn market?

Here's a new study that may be purchased.  We're trying to get a glimpse to share with you:  https://bisouv.com/uncategorized/4483738/who-are-the-key-end-users-of-the-conductive-yarn-market/

Fudan University team develops smart textile

A team from Fudan University has developed a smart textile that can be used not only for display but also communication, as functional as computers or smartphones.

According to Peng Huisheng, leader of the team from Fudan’s macromolecular science department, it developed transparent conductive weft fibers and luminescent warp fibers. When woven together, they form micrometer-scale electroluminescent units similar to those on a digital display screen.   more

How Textiles + Electronics Transformed into Soft Systems and Increased Innovation 
Yolita Wildman Nugent | Feb 4, 2021

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-textiles-electronics-transformed-soft-systems-wildman-nugent 

Huge potential for electronic textiles made with new cellulose thread

Electronic textiles offer revolutionary new opportunities in various fields, in particular healthcare. But to be sustainable, they need to be made of renewable materials. A research team led by Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, now presents a thread made of conductive cellulose, which offers fascinating and practical possibilities for electronic textiles.   more

Conductive Fibers Market continue in growth spurt

The proliferation of private studies of conductive fibers illustrates the tremendous interest in this arena, and most of them indicate continued growth.  Since these reports are for sale, and condifentiasl, we can't comment further.  But if you Google :conductive fibers markets) you should land on more than you can use.

Liquid metal based smart fiber sensor for human-computer interaction 
Abstract—Flexible electronic devices based on liquid metal fibers have attracted the attention of many laboratories in the world due to their convenient use and characteristics of being able to be woven into flexible textiles or applied directly on the body surface. In this research, we utilized the liquid metal mixed with copper particles (Cu-EGaIn) as the outer conductive layer of stretchable fiber, developing a highperformance composite conductive fiber based on liquid metal. The composite conductive fiber has three layers: stretchable elastic fiber core; adhesion layer; liquid metal layer. Specifically, the stretchable elastic fiber core provides the high tensile property, the adhesion layer is used to hold the liquid metal on the fiber surface, and the liquid metal layer makes the fiber have a high electrical conductivity. This kind of fiber not only has the characteristic of high electrical conductivity of metal materials, but also can always maintain high electrical conductivity even in large-scale tensile state. Therefore, we developed a tension sensor based on liquid metal intelligent fiber for human-computer interaction.   MORE

TETHON 3D LAUNCHES THREE NEW HIGH-PERFORMANCE 3D PRINTING RESINS, INCLUDING GRAPHENE

Nebraska-based ceramic 3D printing specialist Tethon 3D has announced the launch of three new UV-curable 3D printing resins.

Graphenite, Cordierite, and Mullite have all been developed for use with the company’s Bison 1000 DLP system, and are primarily intended for geometrically-complex engineering components.

Greg Pugh, Tethon’s CTO, states, “Our team is very excited to launch these new materials. With the power of the Bison 1000 we are able to plug and play a wide variety of technical ceramics. The open settings of the printer also allows our customers to utilize Tethon 3D’s Genesis base resins to formulate custom ceramic and metal UV curable resins in house. With this system there are hundreds of materials that can be adapted to work within our open ecosystem.”    more

Recent progress of conductive polymers for advanced fiber-shaped electrochemical energy storage devices

Over the past decades, flexible and wearable energy storage devices have received tremendous interest due to the development of smart electronic products, such as Apple Watch, Google Glass, and sport wristbands. Fiber-shaped electrochemical energy storage devices (FEESDs) derived from fibrous electrodes are standing out as a result of the excellent flexibility and breathability compared with planar counterparts. Textiles and fabrics can be simply achieved by spinning and weaving FEESDs, which perfectly match with the arbitrary uneven and mobile surface, revealing enormous potentialities in wearable electronics.   more

EPFL scientists have developed the first micro-structured fibers with a viscous metal inside—a perfect example of what cross-disciplinary teamwork can achieve.

Platinum, copper, nickel and phosphorous—those are the components of an amorphous metal alloy with excellent mechanical properties. The alloy is also very corrosion-resistant and attract much interest in watchmaking and micromechanics. Now three scientists from EPFL's Laboratory of Photonic Materials and Fiber Devices (FIMAP) – Ph.D. student Inès Richard, postdoc Wei Yan and Professor Fabien Sorin—have given it a new purpose: they are using it to make electrodes for plastic fibers. Their paper, which was co-authored by Professor Jörg Löffler from ETH Zurich, has been published in Nature Nanotechnology.   more

Incredible Increase in Conductive Fiber Market Studies?

Has anyone else noticed the quantitative increase in market studies around conductve fibers?  Thier prices are sustantial, and we had only been able to purchase a few.  Due to privacy restrictions, we don't publish those results.  But the market in growing, and interest is exponential!  We had tried to keep track of them and publish a list, but there are too many now.

How To Distinguish Anti-static Fabrics Grade

The development of anti-static fabrics has given birth to various specifications and types of anti-static fabrics. We can roughly divide these anti-static fabrics into three categories.    continued

Effects of surface condition of conductive electrospun nanofiber mats on cell behavior for nerve tissue engineering

Abstract.  Electrospun nanofibrous scaffold is a promising implant for peripheral nerve regeneration. Herein, to investigate the effect of surface morphological features and electrical properties of scaffolds on nerve cell behavior, we modified electrospun cellulose (EC) fibrous mats with four kind of soluble conductive polymers derivates (poly (N-(methacryl ethyl) pyrrole) (PMAEPy), poly (N-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyrrole) (PHEPy), poly (3-(Ethoxycarbonyl) thiophene) (P3ECT) and poly (3-thiophenethanol) (P3TE)) by an in-situ polymerization method. The morphological characterization showed that conductive polymers formed aggregated nanoparticles and coatings on the EC nanofibers with the increased fiber diameter further affected the surface properties. Compared with pure EC scaffold, more PC12 cells were adhered and grown on modified mats, with more integral and clearer cell morphology. The results of protein adsorption study indicated that modified EC mats could provide more protein adsorption site due to their characteristic surface morphology, which is beneficial to cell adhesion and growth. The results in this study suggested that these conductive polymers modified scaffolds with special surface morphology have potential applications in neural tissue engineering.   more

Layer-by-layer assembly for all-graphene coated conductive fibers toward superior temperature sensitivity and humidity independence

Conductive fibers are key parts in smart textiles. Layer-by-layer (LbL) technique based on the alternating coating of graphene oxide (GO) and the adhesive layer is usually used to increase the conductivity of graphene coated fiber.   MORE

Perfect for Earth Day, 2020

Flexible electronics made with wood-based nanotechnology

Nanowerk Spotlight) Wood has been traditionally used as lumber or has been deconstructed into elemental fibrils before being reconstructed into various material such as paper, cardboard and artificial wood-based products.

More recently, nanocellulose from wood – a nanomaterial derived from breaking wood fibers down to the nanoscale – has found additional applications such as strength enhancers in paper and biocomposites, barriers for packaging, emulsifiers, in oil separation, substrates for printing electronics, filtration, and biomedicine.

"Wood nanotechnologies are not only associated with extraction and use of nanocellulose or lignin but also with tailoring and functionalizing the hierarchical nanostructure of bulk wood for functional materials," Qiliang Fu, a Wood and Fiber Scientist at Scion, a New Zealand government research institute, tells Nanowerk. "In our latest research we use a top-down approach with a mild chemical treatment that allows the preservation of the complex structure and the original orientation of the cellulose fibres. By conserving the wood structures, a highly aligned cellulosic material with excellent strength is achieved."    more

Highly stretchable CNT/MnO2 nanosheets fiber supercapacitors with high energy density

Another development in an area of interest to us--circuits on a fiber (COF)--Ed.

Fiber-shaped supercapacitors (FSSCs) are promising devices in the wearable electronics because of their good flexibility, weavability, tiny volume and lightweight. However, the low stretchability and energy density limit their practical applications on wearable electronics requiring deformation and high energy density. It remains challenging to increase the energy densities of FSSCs without sacrificing their stretchability.  More

Gold-coated pantyhose inspire a technique for comfortable light-emitting clothing

An approach for developing light-emitting fabric based on typical ultrasheer pantyhose coated in a thin gold film may enable the development of softer, more wearable luminous clothing, researchers in Canada report March 4 in the journal Matter. The work addresses some of the limitations of existing light-emitting fabrics and, with effective power sources, could be developed into more functional designs for safety gear worn by first responders and nighttime construction workers, light-emitting athletic apparel, avante garde and everyday fashion, or wearable advertisements and logos.   more

Assembly of graphene oxide on cotton fiber through dyeing and their properties 

Materials with electrical conductivity are preferred for electronics, medical, space and other applications. Flexible, stretchable and washable conductive fabrics have been preferred over metallic materials. However, the currently available conductive fabrics are mainly made using a dip-drying process which makes it difficult to obtain a regular assembly structure of graphene sheets on the fibers. In this research, we report the development of conductive cotton fabrics through simple dyeing, graphene oxide (GO) with two distinct sizes was used to dye the fabrics which were later reduced using hydrazine hydrate. The regularity of graphene sheets on the surface of the cotton fiber can be improved by level assembly, it is beneficial to the conductive stability of the later drawing, bending and friction process. The results show that, the fabrics coated with graphene had excellent fastness to washing, friction and bending. After 20 washings and exposure to 2000 rubbing and 1000 bending cycles, the fabrics had excellent conductivity retention of 86%, 55% and 99%, respectively. In addition, the introduction of graphene causes the dyed fabric to have good infrared absorption and excellent UV resistance. Using cotton fabrics and GO to impart conductivity and UV resistance would be an affordable, sustainable and novel approach to develop functionalized materials for various applications.  more/citation

Development & Characterization of Alginate/Graphene Oxide Fibers with Improved Electrical Conductivity 
Graphene has demonstrated extraordinary electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties. In last decade, a lot of research has been done to improve fabrication and solution processing of graphene to graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide. Graphene oxide contains more number of oxygen containing functional groups which increase interlayer distance and make its dispersion easy in aqueous solutions.   These advances in graphene have further improved its properties including tensile strength, elastic modulus, low resistance, carrier mobility and stability against higher temperatures and chemicals.  Alginate is obtained from brown seaweeds and has potential applications in treatment of wounds and cell differentiation due to its non-toxicity, biodegradability and biocompatibility.  Citation&More

IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries Continues Work on Standards
The latest status is reflected in this powerpoint presentation.
Chris Jorgensen is the Director of Technology Transfer.  View CFX implementation roadmaps and submit your company's roadmap at https://cfx.ipc.org/

ALSO
Mark your calendar for the next IPC CFX/Hermes Live Factory Demo
February 4-6, 2020 during IPC APEX EXPO 2020
San Diego, CA, USA

How IIoT technology can help H&S

Serious workplace injuries cost US manufacturers more than $7 billion each year, according to Liberty Mutual’s 2019 Workplace Safety Index. Overexertion, falls, collisions with equipment, getting caught in equipment and repetitive motion injuries are the most common reasons that workers in this sector miss 5 or more days of work. Sam Cece, founder, president, & CEO of Swift Sensors, reports.

Compliance with OSHA standards and a culture that emphasises safety are important elements of injury reduction. However, more solutions are needed, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is delivering them.  Citation&More

Electrical conductivity of anisotropic PMMA composite filaments with aligned carbon fibers – predicting the influence of measurement direction

In order to study the electrical conductivity of anisotropic PMMA/carbon fiber (CF) composites, cylindrical PMMA/CF filaments were extruded through a capillary rheometer, resulting in an induced CF orientation along the extrusion direction. The aspect ratios of the CFs in the filaments were accurately regulated using a two-step melt mixing process. By measuring the vertical and horizontal resistances of filaments where the outermost layer was successively peeled off, the anisotropic conductivities could be calculated. This was done using a novel analytical model where each cylindrical composite filament was defined as a structure consisting of three concentric cylinders with potentially different conductivities and CF orientations. The electrical conductivity increased with the degree of fiber orientation along the voltage direction and the effects of anisotropy and measurement direction were incorporated into the (isotropic) McLachlan equation. The required distance for electrical contact between the CFs was calculated to be 16 nm. Finite element (FEM) simulations were successfully utilized to confirm the data.   Citation&MORE

Causes Of Electrostatic Phenomena In Textiles And Antistatic Methods

In the textile production process, static electricity will affect the quality of spinning and weaving products, and even affect the dyeing and finishing process. For example, after drying, the moisture content of fabric decreases, and it is not easy to generate static electricity. It is often adsorbed on metal parts, and there is a disorder winding phenomenon. Because the same fabric has the same charge and mutual exclusion, the falling cloth is not easy to fold and neatly, which affects the processing of the lower track. The operator's hand and the contact with the charged dry cloth are often subjected to electric shocks. The clothing with static electricity is easy to absorb dust and pollute. After taking the clothes with static electricity, they will be entangled with each other, and the phenomenon of "skirt embracing legs" will cause mutual discomfort. Citation&More

Axial alignment of carbon nanotubes on fibers to enable highly conductive fabrics for electromagnetic interference shielding

Conductive coatings show great promise for next-generation electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding challenges on textile; however, their stringent requirements for electrical conductivity are difficult to meet by conventional approaches of increasing the loading and homogeneity of conductive nanofillers. Here, the axial alignment of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on fibers that obtained by spontaneous capillary-driven self-assembly is shown on commercial cotton fabrics and its great potential for EMI shielding is demonstrated. The aligned CNTs optimize structurally the conductive network on fabrics and yield an 81-fold increase in electrical conductivity per unit CNT, compared with the disordered CNT microstructure. The high-efficiency electrical conductivity allows a several-micron-thick coating on insulating fabrics to endow an EMI shielding effectiveness of 21.5 dB in the X band and 20.8 dB in the Ku band, respectively, which meets the standard shielding requirement in commercial applications. It is among the minimum reported thicknesses for conductive nanocomposite coatings to date. Moreover, the coated fabrics with aligned CNTs possess a desirable stability upon bending, scratching, stripping and even washing, which is attributed to the dense CNT packing in the aligned microarchitecture. This work presents the anisotropic structure on large areas by self-assembly, offering new opportunities for next-generation portable and wearable electronic devices.  Citation&More

Statex and V Technical Textiles Announce the Availability of a New Textile-Based Circuitry Technique

V Technical Textiles, Inc. and our European Partner, Statex Produktions-und Vertriebs GmbH, and have announced the availability of a Selective Plating Technique, a joint technology developed by our European Partner Statex and Laird Performance Materials.  This technology will not only create the ability to selectively silver plate an electrically conductive pattern or circuit on to both sides of a flexible fabric substrate but literally through all three dimensions of the fabric, including top and bottom sides and the fabric in between the sides.  This has helped in the durability of the plating when subjected to multiple stretch and wash processes, which has always been a difficulty with the traditional screen printed conductive ink processes.  The new technology has passed rigorous testing involving stretching and washing cycles with no noticeable negative effects in electrical performance.

This improved technique could well be used in situations requiring low amperage flexible circuits that are particularly useful in the medical field when sensors are attached to a flexible human substrate, the skin.  These circuits will also be useful in touch-activated switches, and patch antennas in the automotive, aerospace, military, telecommunications, and smart textiles industries and in combination with other electronic devices.  Combined with “silverized yarn wires” covered with Thermoplastic PolyUrethane (TPU) to provide durable, flexible connections for these circuits, the potential uses for this new technology are almost endless.  Please contact us with your ideas for this new technology and we’ll be happy to help you design and develop your product from conception to prototype and through to production!   link 12/2019

 

Toyobo Demonstrates Exciting Products at last week's IDTechEx Show:


- Highly heat-resistant polyimide film XENOMAX®
This polyimide film with excellent heat resistance is one of the most dimensionally stable in the world. Thanks to its thinness, lightness and dimensional stability equivalent to glass, an increasing number of manufacturers use this product as a substrate for organic EL displays and electronic paper. At the booth, Toyobo will introduce the world's first digital music score device with a two-screen electronic paper that uses XENOMAX® as a violinist performs live.

- Stretchable conductive film COCOMI(TM)
This stretchable conductive film for electrode and wiring materials is used in wearable devices. It is thin and highly stretchable, providing a natural feel to the wearer. Toyobo's booth will display clothing that uses COCOMI(TM), which is capable of making real-time measurements of physiological information.

- World's strongest PBO fiber with excellent flame resistance Zylon®
The world's first Polybenzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber produced and sold by Toyobo. Among existing organic fibers, Zylon® has world-leading levels of strength, tensile modulus and heat and flame resistance. At the booth, Toyobo personnel will introduce a wide range of uses possible thanks to the product's excellent properties.
For more information, contact: https://www.toyobo-global.com/  11/2019

Researchers Use Conductive Carbon Fibers to Repair Damaged Electrical Circuits in Mice Hearts

Humans Next?

Researchers developed very fine carbon fiber threads with electrical conductivity. Each thread measured a quarter of the width of human hair and was non-toxic, polymer-coated. These treads were embedded with tens of millions of microscopic nanotubes from inside and their tips were stripped back to serve as electrodes. Teams sewed these threads through damaged tissues in the hearts of mice, which allowed electric signals to carry on traveling back and forth. Prior to this study, the rodents experienced disruptions in electrical signals in their hearts, however, fibers proved to be effective in restoring the signals over a month-long testing period.  more

Google and Levi's introduce a new smart jacket that can answer calls and snap selfies
This type of product might be useful for the subway groping problem women experience in Japan and elsewhere (ed).

Google and Levi's are once again teaming up to launch a line of tech-infused denim jackets. The new Levi's Trucker Jacket is infused with Google's Jacquard technology. It's pretty much the same concept we saw in 2017, but with some notable upgrades. The underlying tech behind the jacket still relies on a Bluetooth-enabled "tag" that clips into the jacket's left cuff, which acts as a touchpad so you can control your music and a handful of other apps by swiping on it.  https://mashable.com/article/google-levis-jacquard-trucker-jacket/

Conductive Textile Market Perceptions Targeting Industrial Expansion Studied During The Forecast Period, 2019-2027

In 2018, The Global Conductive Textile Market Was Valued At ~US$ 1.2 Billion, And Is Set To Offer Lucrative Opportunities To Market Players During The Forecast Period. Conductive Textile Is Used In Various Range Of Applications Such As Military & Defense, Sports & Fitness, Medical & Healthcare, Consumer Electronics, Etc. Increasing Number Of Applications In Wearable Electronics Like Health Monitoring, Biomedical Sensors, Wearable Displays, Data Managing Devices, Electromagnetic Interference Protection, And Radio Frequency Interference Protection Are Set To Propel The Conductive Textile Market Growth Over The Forecast Period.

Although The Global Conductive Textile Market Is Highly Fragmented, Few Prominent Players In The Conductive Textile Market Are 3M Company, Eeonyx Corporation, Laird, PLC, Metal Textiles Corporation, Parker Hannifin Corporation, Seiren Co. Ltd, Swift Textile Metallizing, LLC, Toray Industries, Inc., And Others. Stakeholders In The Conductive Textile Market Are Focusing On Technological Advancements, Product Innovations, And Adoption Of New Materials To Find Cost-Effective Solutions With Ideal Enhancements. Conductive Textile Market Players Are Also Entering Into Long-Term Partnerships With End-Use Industries, Raw Material Suppliers, And Global Players To Have A Strong Presence In The Worldwide Market. These Strategies Help Them Cater To The Dynamics In The Conductive Textile Market. There Is More Focus On Flexible, Lightweight With High Strength, And Pocket-Friendly Products, Which Lead To The High Demand For Smart Fabrics.

For Instance, Bekaert Offers Conductive Textile And Yarns Products Under The Brand Name Of Bekinox®. The Product Provided By Bekaert Are ~100% Stainless Steel Or Can Be Blended With Other Materials Like Cotton And Polyester To Meet As Per The Application. Steel Offers High Conductivity And Efficient Transfer Of Data And Energy, Whereas Yarns Provide Flexibility And Durability To Offer Comfortable Conductive Textiles. A Range Of Conductive Textiles Meet Various Applications In Wearable Electronics, Sensors, Antennas For RFID Tags, And Electrotherapy Pads. Similarly, SEIREN Co. Ltd. Offers Conductive Fabrics, Flexible Circuit Boards For The Wearable Devices With Infused Sensors, Which Are Equipped With LED, Having A Thickness Of Nearly 1mm. Furthermore, TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC. Offers Bio-Electrode Conductive Nano-Fiber Fabric Under The Brand Name Of Hitoe™. These Conductive Textiles Are Infused With Conductive Polymers And Monitor The Physical State, Stress Level, And Other Parameters During Sports Training.   More. amd ordering info

Under Armour Space Suits for Space Tourists, with gold fibers

more

Global EMI Shielding Market Analysis to Reach USD 7.95 Billion In 2024 

The Zion Market Research added Most up-to-date research on “EMI Shielding Market: by Component (EMI Shielding Tapes & Laminates, Conductive Coatings & Paints, Metal Shielding, Conductive Polymers, and EMI/EMC Filters), by Method (Radiation and Conduction), and by End-use Industry (Consumer Electronics, Telecom & IT, Automotive, Healthcare, Defense & Aerospace, and Others) – Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2017 – 2024” to its huge collection of research reports. The present global EMI Shielding Market research report assists the market’s new bees as well as established players to study and guesstimate the EMI Shielding Market scenario within the expected time. The distinctiveness of the global EMI Shielding Market report is it touches local as well as international elements of the EMI Shielding Market in an easy to understand way. Numerous important market players  are heading the global EMI Shielding Market via embracing a massive part of the global EMI Shielding Market.

Request a Sample of EMI Shielding Market Report: www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/emi-shielding-market

This isn't our usual product, but interesting to find conductive fibers in nature

Cable bacteria: Living electrical wires with record conductivity

Cable bacteria are centimeter-long micro-organisms that consist of thousands of cells in a row. "These multicellular bacteria were only discovered a few years ago, and we already knew they were doing something exceptional,"   ...more

Scientists have created bacteria capable of conducting current   more

Stretchable and Flexible E-Fiber Wire Antennas

A new process to fabricate stretchable and flexible wire antennas with conductive fibers (E-fibers)

Current processes to manufacture flexible, mechanically durable antennas on E-fibers yield non-stretchable prototypes and lack fine print details. The geometric accuracy of printed antennas is less than 1 mm, and the devices are prone to failure due to fatigue and wear from deformation. The antenn&ldots;  more

Future Market Insights' latest study: 

·         Conductive Fiber Market Revenue is expected to reach US$ 1.3 Bn in 2019

  • Copper over Silver - The Base Material Shift to Look Out For

Conductive fibers recorded a volume sales of approximately 42 thousand tons, equating a value of US$ 1.2 billion in 2018. As per the insights culled by the latest report of Future Market Insights (FMI), the global conductive fibers market is likely to spectate high growth over the course of the forecast period, driven by a plethora of factors.

The growth in sales can be attributed to the increasing use of conductive fibers in electromagnetic shielding, in light of growing electromagnetic pollution with the near-ubiquitous use of smartphones, smart watches, and similar electronic devices.

"Adoption of conductive fibers continues to face technical and commercial challenges w.r.t the sensor size on the technical front and limited awareness on the commercial front. Manufacturers prioritizing their investments in industry-specific development of conductive fiber are likely to add new application dimensions and revenue channels to the market, finds FMI's report".

See the full release with more information and graphics, with contact intormation at our News Release tab

Boosting wearable signals

Researchers at the National University of Singapore and University of Waterloo developed a conductive textile that can be used in clothing to boost the communications power of wearable devices and sensors. The team says such a ‘wireless body sensor network’ allows devices to transmit data with 1,000 times stronger signal, improving device battery life.

Typically, wearable devices use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to report back to the user’s smartphone. As they broadcast several meters in all directions, energy is lost to the surrounding environment. Instead, when woven into clothing, the team’s metamaterial textile is able to create ‘surface waves’ which can glide wirelessly around the body such that the energy of the signal between devices is held within 10 centimeters of the body rather than spread in all directions.    more

Transparent Conductive Films (TCFs) Market Development, Top Trends and Future Scope with Upcoming Opportunities

A global Transparent Conductive Films (TCFs) market report has come to the stands. The report, which is released by Industry Research, offers a lot of details that allow everyone to understand different things without difficulties. The study integrated key details such as production, growth rate, consumption, market share, production volume, price, gross margin, and revenue. The report has opinions from industry experts and offers an overview of the past years and the current market situation.   more

3D Printing of Conductive fibers:  University of Wollongong: Refining the Cochlear Implant with 3D Printing

Read the article here

Hemp as a Conductive Fiber?     Interesting idea, read here

Scientists make unique wearable technology discovery involving acids from red wine

Tannic acid may be the key to next-gen wearable tech.

A team of scientists from the University of Manchester have made a wearable technology discovery involving tannic acid that could lead to the development of more durable and flexible wearable devices. The researchers extracted tannic acid from red wine, coffee and black tea for their experiment.    more

circut on fiber become reality

Washable Electronic Textiles to Usher in an Era of Even Smarter Wearable Products

Transistors connected with twisted electrodes maintain functionality even after being bent and washed over 1,000 times and can activate LED or detect electrocardiogram signals    more

 

New way to beat the heat in electronics 

Rice University lab's flexible insulator offers high strength and superior thermal conduction

A nanocomposite invented at Rice University's Brown School of Engineering promises to be a superior high-temperature dielectric material for flexible electronics, energy storage and electric devices.

The nanocomposite combines one-dimensional polymer nanofibers and two-dimensional boron nitride nanosheets. The nanofibers reinforce the self-assembling material while the "white graphene" nanosheets provide a thermally conductive network that allows it to withstand the heat that breaks down common dielectrics, the polarized insulators in batteries and other devices that separate positive and negative electrodes.   more

COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE

When innovation succeeds

Collaborative, long-term efforts produce successful new products and applications.   by Marie O'Mahony

 Harvard professor and author of "The Innovator's Dilemma," Clayton M. Christensen, identifies two forms of innovation: sustaining and disruptive. The former he classifies as that which improves product performance, while the latter introduces a very different value proposition from what was previously available. Read more

The global conductive filler market is expected to reach an estimated $5.8 billion by 2023 with a CAGR of 5% from 2018 to 2023

PR Newswire May 27, 2019

NEW YORK, May 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Trends, opportunities and forecast in conductive filler market to 2023 by product type (carbon black, graphite, carbon fiber, alumina, copper, silver, steel, and others), by application (plastics, adhesives, coatings, battery and fuel cells, and metallurgy), by end use industry (consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, aerospace, and others), function type (electrical and thermal), and by region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World)

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05778614/?utm_source=PRN

Electrically Conductive Coatings for Fiber-Based E-Textiles

Kony Chatterjee, Jordan Tabor and Tushar K. Ghosh *  Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA; kchatte@ncsu.edu (K.C.); jatabor@ncsu.edu (J.T.)* Correspondence: tghosh@ncsu.edu; Tel.: +1-919-515-6568

Abstract: With the advent of wearable electronic devices in our daily lives, there is a need for soft, flexible, and conformable devices that can provide electronic capabilities without sacrificing comfort. Electronic textiles (e-textiles) combine electronic capabilities of devices such as sensors, actuators, energy harvesting and storage devices, and communication devices with the comfort and conformability of conventional textiles. An important method to fabricate such devices is by coating conventionally used fibers and yarns with electrically conductive materials to create flexible capacitors, resistors, transistors, batteries, and circuits. Textiles constitute an obvious choice for deployment of such flexible electronic components due to their inherent conformability, strength, and stability. Coating a layer of electrically conducting material onto the textile can impart electronic capabilities to the base material in a facile manner. Such a coating can be done at any of the hierarchical levels of the textile structure, i.e., at the fiber, yarn, or fabric level. This review focuses on various electrically conducting materials and methods used for coating e-textile devices, as well as the different configurations that can be obtained from such coatings, creating a smart textile-based system.

   SOURCE

Antennas of flexible nanotube films an alternative for electronics

(Nanowerk News) Antennas made of carbon nanotube films are just as efficient as copper for wireless applications, according to researchers at Rice University’s Brown School of Engineering. They’re also tougher, more flexible and can essentially be painted onto devices.

The Rice lab of chemical and biomolecular engineer Matteo Pasquali tested antennas made of “shear-aligned” nanotube films. The researchers discovered that not only were the conductive films able to match the performance of commonly used copper films, they could also be made thinner to better handle higher frequencies.    MORE

Short Carbon-Fiber Filled PP Composites Launched

Italian compounder Xenia Materials has developed a new series of short carbon-fiber filled PP thermoplastic composite grades under the XECARB 11 brand. (While the company does not currently have a North American office, they well sell directly, as they have been, to interested customers, according to technical sales manager Enrico Mancinetti.)    More

3-D printer threads electronic fibers onto fabrics

The potential for wearable electronics goes far beyond smart watches, but our current options for battery packs and circuit boards don't make for the most comfortable E-socks. One solution, being developed by scientists in China, is to simply print flexible fibers on to transitional textiles or clothes. For example, they printed patterns that can harvest and store electricity onto fabrics. With a 3-D printer equipped with a coaxial needle, they drew patterns, pictures, and lettering onto cloth, giving it the ability to transform movement into energy. The advance appears March 27 in Matter, a new materials science journal from publisher Cell Press.   more

Soft capacitor fibers for electronic textiles     

click here for downloadable PDF link

Engineers Craft the Basic Building Block for Electrospun Nanofibers

Biomedical engineers cut post-processing steps to make electrospun nanofibers for wound healing and improve 3D-matrices for biological tissues. They speed up  prototyping using identical materials.  

Electrospinning uses electric fields to manipulate nanoscale and microscale fibers. The technique is well-developed but time-intensive and costly. A team from Michigan Technological University came up with a new way to create customizable nanofibers for growing cell cultures that cuts out time spent removing toxic solvents and chemicals. Their work is published in Elsevier’s Materialia (DOI: 10.1016/j.mtla.2019.100296).    more

Silver nanowires promise more comfortable smart textiles

In a paper to be published in the forthcoming issue in NANO, researchers from the Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications have developed a simple, scalable and low-cost capillary-driven self-assembly method to prepare flexible and stretchable conductive fibers that have applications in wearable electronics and smart fabrics.   more

New Fiber Could Be the Foundation for Futuristic Smart Garments
Self-assembling silver tubes might someday wire up your clothes.

Designers of smart garments have a vision: that we’ll come to use electronics woven into the clothes we wear not just as dazzling new ways to express ourselves, like the light-up prom dress that went viral in 2017, but as extensions of our digital lives that could collect biometric data or even grant wearers superhuman senses.    more

Global Conductive Yarn Market by Product Type, Market, Players and Regions-Forecast to 2022
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 About the Conductive Yarn Industry 

1.1 Industry Definition
1.1.1 Types of Conductive Yarn industry
1.1.1.1 Metallic type
1.1.1.2 Carbon based type
1.1.1.3 Metal compound type
1.2 Main Market Activities
1.3 Similar Industries
1.4 Industry at a Glance

Chapter 2 World Market Competition Landscape
Chapter 3 World Conductive Yarn Market share
Chapter 4 Supply Chain Analysis
Chapter 5 Company Profiles
Chapter 6 Globalisation & Trade
Chapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major Countries
Chapter 9 World Conductive Yarn Market Forecast through 2022
Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market Overview

Microfluidics Woven into Fibers Have Potential for New Devices

Microfluidics have been woven into fibers by researchers at MIT to allow for more complex medical-testing devices. 

A multidisciplinary team of electrical engineers, materials scientists, and microsystems technologists has discovered a way to solve a challenge with microfluidics devices that could only allow for them to be used on a tiny scale. They therefore extended their range of use, as described in an MIT news release.   link

RESEARCH REVIEW: 3D PRINTED GOLD, JAXA CARBON FIBER COMPOSITES, MULTIMATERIAL ELECTRONICS

https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/research-review-3d-printed-gold-jaxa-carbon-fiber-composites-multimaterial-electronics-142305/

Highly conductive and stretchable fiber interconnections using dry-spun carbon nanotube fibers modified with ionic liquid/poly copolymer composite 

In this paper, we demonstrate highly conductive and stretchable fiber interconnections for electronic textiles (e-textiles) using dry-spun carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers modified with ionic liquid (IL)/poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) copolymer composite. By adopting direct infiltration of CNT fibers with a mixture of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and PVDF-HFP, mechanical properties such as stretchability, maximum load and strain were significantly improved while minimizing the reduction in electrical conductivity.   more

Continuous Fiber Manufacturing blurs the line between 3D printing and AFP

Continuous fiber manufacturing (CFM) is a 3D printing/continuous fiber deposition process patented by moi composites.   more

Battery Fashion: Scientists Weave Rechargeable Electronics Into Clothes
Wearable, rechargeable electronics that’ll outpace the Energizer Bunny and change the world.
(ed: again. supercapcitors at work.

Wearable electronics are nothing new, but the technology has been limited by the question of how to power them for long periods without toting around a bulky charge storing device. Not any longer. Thanks to UMass Amherst materials scientist Trisha L. Andrew, a battery can now be stitched directly into your lapel.

Andrew and her colleagues have developed a method of weaving nylon, polyester, and a conductive silver fiber into densely twisted strands that can be sewn into textiles, creating a flexible weave of aligned electrodes. The resulting paper-like material has a high charge storage capacity relative to its size, one that far outperforms batteries.

Why stitch a bunch of highly conductive, electrochemically active materials into textiles that touch your body? The UMass team has shown that the wearable supercapacitors are light, flexible, washable, breathable, and have been successfully integrated into shirts, shoes, coats, and pants. It's a breakthrough with implications that extend far beyond consumer electronics.   more

Inside these fibers, droplets are on the move
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Summary:
A team has develop fibers containing systems for mixing, separating, and testing fluids. These fiber-based microfluidics systems may open up new possibilities for medical screening.
more

Ford Begins Building Cars With New Material That Is Lighter & Stronger Than Carbon Fiber

Ford will begin using a new material in their vehicles that is both lighter and stronger than carbon fiber.

The new material in question isn’t actually new--it was originally discovered in 1962, but nobody knew what to do with it so it languished in academic papers for decades. It was then rediscovered in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at the University of Manchester, who then spent years studying the new “miracle material”. They even won a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for their work.    That material is called graphene.    more

Dynamic assembly of liquid crystalline graphene oxide gel fibers for ion transport

Colloidal dispersions with liquid crystallinity hold great promise for fabricating their superstructures.    more

Next-generation composites may monitor their own structural health

(ed: wonder if we can translate this to fibers also?)

Carbon fiber composites—lightweight and strong—are great structural materials for automobiles, aircraft and other transportation vehicles. They consist of a polymer matrix, such as epoxy, into which reinforcing carbon fibers have been embedded. Because of differences in the mechanical properties of these two materials, the fibers can detach from the matrix under excessive stresses or fatigue. That means damage in carbon fiber composite structures can remain hidden below the surface, undetectable by visual inspection, potentially leading to catastrophic failure.   more    also here

Crack propagation design in transparent polymeric conductive films via carbon nanotube fiber-reinforcement and its application for highly sensitive and mechanically durable strain sensors

Conductive thin films are typically subject to crack formation and propagation under tensile strain, turning into insulating films due to complete breakage at large strain. However, if such crack propagation can be intentionally designed, repetitive resistance change can be obtained and used for implementation of high-performance strain sensors that are suitable for biocompatible and stretchable electronic applications.    more here

New VOLT Smart Yarns Wearable Tech Division Provides Cutting-Edge Smart Apparel and Fabric

VOLT Smart Yarns CEO Matt Kolmes unveils the new Wearable Tech division, a B2B one-stop shop for brands looking to add wearable technology into their products, at the 2018 IFAI Expo   more

Conference Gives Glimpse into Future of Printed Electronics, Conductive Inks

Smart packaging, displays, RFID and more are covered in inaugural Electronic and Conductive Ink Conference.  more

  Ford Begins Building Cars With New Material That Is Lighter & Stronger Than Carbon Fiber

Graphene is both extremely light and extremely strong – about 200 times stronger than steel, and about 20 times stronger than carbon fiber. It can also be machined to be very thin and flexible, and also has conductive properties.     more

Conductive Yarn Market Study

Even if you don't purchase the study, the categoeis and tables of contents are illustrative of the potential. more

Isolated carbon nanotubes show clear advantage

The small dimensions, optical and electronic properties, and flexibility of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) make them ideal candidates for transparent conductive films in touch screens, smart windows, photovoltaic cells, and other devices. But when SWCNTs aggregate and become bundled together, Schottky junctions form between the nanotubes that downgrade their optoelectronic properties.

Now, however, researchers have created a network of isolated, individual nanotubes that avoid these issues    more

Are Carbon Nanotubes More than Just a Yarn?

A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a cylindrical allotrope of carbon, essentially a sheet of graphene (a single-layer hexagonal lattice of carbon) rolled into a cylinder. Since its discovery in 1991, much has been made of its potential applications. Its high conductance and high electron mobilities have tantalized engineers with the possibilities of future electronics applications. CNT’s physical strength has led to predictions of new materials, particularly super strong threads, yarns and cables. Although progress has been made in the laboratory, industrialized production of CNTs has been elusive.     more

A Highly Conductive Fiber with Waterproof and Self-cleaning Properties for Textile Electronics

Major concerns in developments of wearable textile electronics are exposure to moisture and contamination. The exposure can cause electrical breakdown of the device and its interconnections, thus continuous efforts have been made to fabricate textile electronics which are free from moisture and pollution. Herein, we developed a highly conductive and waterproof fiber with excellent electrical conductivity (0.11 O/cm) and mechanical stability for advanced interconnector component in wearable textile electronics. more

‘Iron Man’ suit could charge electronics

DAYTON — University of Cincinnati engineers and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are developing clothing that can charge your cellphone.

The clothing is so technologically advanced that it might remind you of a scene out of “Iron Man.” The clothing uses the unique properties of carbon nano-tubes: a large surface area that is strong, conductive and heat-resistant, according to UC.   UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science has a five-year agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory to consider ways to enhance military technology. UC’s Nanoworld Laboratories, co-directed by professor Vesselin Shanov, is using their expertise in electrical, chemical and mechanical engineering to craft “smart” materials that can power electronics.More

Editor's observation

There seems to be tremendous uptick in market studies about conductive fibers--more than five per week.  Looks like a lot of people are interested in this market place.

Novel sensors could enable smarter textiles

A team of engineers at the University of Delaware is developing next-generation smart textiles by creating flexible carbon nanotube composite coatings on a wide range of fibers, including cotton, nylon and wool. Their discovery is reported in the journal ACS Sensors where they demonstrate the ability to measure an exceptionally wide range of pressure—from the light touch of a fingertip to being driven over by a forklift.     more

Myant Inc., And CarlisleIT Announce Strategic Partnership For Next-Generation Conductive Yarns And The Future Of Textile Computing

Ed note: A very big development, signalling the healthy future for conductive yarns   The news release

Military wearable computing hits the mainstream

Ed note: This article describes the exciting and large future for integrated clothing-electronics for the warfighter.  Well written, and a must read about our future.   Read here.

Here's an exciting new type of solarcell--Perovskite:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perovskite_solar_cell

Ultrahigh energy fiber-shaped supercapacitors based on porous hollow conductive polymer composite fiber electrodes     

the article

The Basics of Rapid Injection Molding 

They are more conductive than carbon fiber. Minerals such as talc and clay are often used as fillers to reduce costs or increase the hardness of .. more

Exciting development:
SCIENTISTS HAVE CREATED A STRETCHY CONDUCTIVE FIBERS FOR WEARABLE ELECTRONICS
In the publication Advanced Materials group of Swiss scientists published an article about the invented conductive elastic fiber that is created for wearable electronics. The assurance of experts from Switzerland, when stretching of the material, its fibers can be reversible to shrink virtually without loss of elasticity. In the basis of innovative material was taken as an alloy with carbon and the electrodes. New material is obtained by stretching the elastic fibers of the preform.    more

Stretchable Conductive Fibers Based on a Cracking Control Strategy for Wearable Electronics 

Stretchability plays an important role in wearable devices. Repeated stretching often causes the conductivity dramatically decreasing due to the ...

Organic Conductive Fibers as Nonmetallic Electrodes and Neural Interconnects

 
Novel organic electrically conductive organic fibers (ECFs) have been fabricated using a facile, economical and scalable technique by staining nonconductive fibers (both natural and synthetic) with a conductive ink composed of two intrinsically conductive materials, i.e., single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rr-P3HT). more

 

Video: Essentium Shows off Unique Additive Materials
The video

GLOBAL CONDUCTIVE STAINLESS FIBERS MARKET RESEARCH REPORT 2017
Manyof our members are coaitng stailness.  This report might be of interest.

Effect of adding carbon fiber on conductive stability of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber composites
In this work, the conductive composites of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and conductive carbon black (CCB) were prepared. The volume resistivity of NBR/CCB composites became stable when the addition content of CCB reached 12 wt %. However, when carbon fiber (CF) was added into the composites, the volume resistivity ...

Another development to complement conduuctive fibers:
Liquid transistors show that liquid metal electronics are possible and practical
Indium gallium alloy can be used to create stretchable circuit wiring and electrical switches

Deformable robots would be endlessly useful. There are any number of materials available that can serve as the bodies of robots that would wiggle and wriggle; what’s lacking is electronics that are similarly deformable and would enable and control the movement. This is one of the inspirations for investigating liquid metal electronics, and the recent demonstration of a liquid metal switch is an encouraging sign that liquid metal electronics might be not just possible but also practical. more

Another development to complement conduuctive fibers:
Atomically thin light-emitting device opens possibility for invisible displays
UC Berkeley engineers built an invisible LED that's just three atoms thick

A new light-emitting device has been developed in the laboratory of Ali Javey, professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at Berkeley, and it may have a very bright future. The new device is three atoms thick and can be made smaller than a human hair. Funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, the advancement was published in Nature Communications on March 26. A previously published work by the Ali Javey lab in 2015 showed how different semiconductors were capable of emitting light, but they were unable to create a functioning light-emitting device.    more

Knitting electronics with yarn batteries

The group twisted carbon nanotube fibers into a yarn, then coated one piece of yarn with zinc to form an anode, and another with magnesium oxide to form a cathode. These two pieces were then twisted like a double helix and coated with a polyacrylamide electrolyte and encased in silicone.    more

New conductive coating may unlock biometric and wearable technology of the future

A team of researchers from the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University have developed a mechanically robust conductive coating that can maintain performance under heavy stretching and bending.  Stretchable, bendable and foldable electronics are crucial for the development of emerging technologies like adaptive displays, artificial skin, and biometric and wearable devices. This presents a unique challenge of balancing electronic performance and mechanical flexibility. The difficulty lies in finding a material that can withstand a wide array of deformations, like stretching, bending and twisting, all while maintaining electrical conductivity. Adding to the challenge is the need for this conductivity to be engineered into a variety of different surfaces, such as cloth, fiber, glass or plastic.  more

Conductive Textiles Industry: Innovation in the textile industry and Increase In Physical Fitness Activities to Improve Growth
a report from Transparency Market research

Integral Technologies Announces ElectriPlast® Conductive Long Fiber Licensing Agreement 

EVANSVILLE, Ind., Feb. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Integral Technologies Inc. (OTC-PK: ITKG) today announced it has partnered with PolyOne Corp. to commercialize its patented, long fiber conductive ElectriPlast® material for electromagnetic and radio-frequency (EMI/RFI) shielding applications.     PolyOne licenses conductive long fiber technology for driver assist devices - CompositesWorld

"Atom-Thick" Fibers Will Lead To Amazingly Light Phones, All thanks to atomic "sewing."

Mixing and matching two seemingly distinct components has led to some of humanity’s greatest inventions. Reinforcing concrete with steel made skyscrapers possible. Stitching together the atoms of various substances has led to composite materials, like carbon fiber and fiberglass, that are used in our phones, cars, and homes.   more

Flexible, sensor-packed e-skin can be healed when damaged and recycled when no longer needed

The next generation of fitness trackers and health monitors may not be little boxes we wear around our necks or on our wrists, they could be flexible wearables or temporary tattoos. But when such devices get damaged, they'll need to be replaced. And when they're no longer needed, they'll end up on the growing mountain of e-waste. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder have developed an electronic skin embedded with a host of sensors that can be bent and twisted to custom fit its owner. And if it gets damaged, the e-skin can be healed, and it can be completely recycled at the end of its useful life.   link

Japanese researchers develop ultrathin, highly elastic skin display

A new ultrathin elastic display that fits snugly on the skin can show the moving waveform of an electrocardiogram recorded by a breathable, on-skin electrode sensor. Combined with a wireless communication module, this integrated biomedical sensor system, called "skin electronics," can transmit biometric data to the cloud.  more

Method Developed for Handmade Nanotubes that Can be Made in One Hour...Watch the Video      THIS IS BIG

Handmade" and "high tech" are not usually two things that go together. But both of these words apply to a method developed by Rice University researchers to quickly produce fibers from carbon nanotubes.  The work accompanies Pasquali’s pioneering 2013 method to spin full spools of thread-like nanotube fibers for aerospace, automotive, medical and smart-clothing applications. The fibers look like a cotton thread, but they perform like metal wires and carbon fibers     MORE

Adidas Sneakers = Free Pass on Berlin Subways

EXCITING DEVELOPMENT in the world of not just conductive fibers, but smart fibers--where fibers have embedded electronics
Read the story

Highly Conductive, Light Weight, Robust, Corrosion-Resistant, Scalable, All-Fiber Based Current Collectors for Aqueous Acidic Batteries

Here, a carbon nanotube (CNT)–cellulose nanofiber (CNF) all-fiber composite is developed that takes advantage of the high conductivity of CNT while achieving high mechanical strength through the interaction between CNT and CNF. By optimizing the CNT/CNF weight ratio, this all-fiber current collector can be made very thin while maintaining high conductivity (˜700 S cm-1) and strength (>60 MPa), making it an ideal replacement for heavy metal current collectors in aqueous battery systems.  more

Facile Fabrication of Electrically Conductive Low density polyethylene/Carbon Fiber Tubes for Novel Smart Materials via Multi-axial Orientation

Electromechanical sensors are indispensable components in functional devices and robotics application. However, the fabrication of the sensors still maintain a challenging issue that high percolation threshold and easy failure of conductive network are derived from uniaxial orientation of conductive fillers in practical melt processing. Herein, we reported a facile fabrication method to prepare multi-axial low density polyethylene (LDPE) /carbon fibers (CFs) tube with bidirectional controllable electrical conductivity and sensitive strain-responsive performance via rotation extrusion technology.   more

Reconstituted silk can be several times stronger than the natural fiber and made in different forms

When it comes to concocting the complex mix of molecules that makes up fibers of natural silk, nature beats human engineering hands down. Despite efforts to synthesize the material, artificial varieties still cannot match the natural fiber's strength.  But by starting with silk produced by silkworms, breaking it down chemically, and then reassembling it, engineers have found they can make a material that is more than twice as stiff as its natural counterpart and can be shaped into complex structures such as meshes and lattices.    more

Wireless electric bandage prevents infection

Electric bandages were first announced in 2009.  Now OSU has a study which builds on Sen’s 2014 research with a wireless electroceutical dressing (WED) that uses silver and zinc printed on fabric in a geometric pattern. When moistened using bodily fluids or a hydrogel, WED generates a weak electric field without any external power supply. WED can be used like any other disposable dressing.  “This wireless electric dressing is FDA-cleared and already in clinical use. But we need to learn more about its underlying mechanisms to enable optimal use," Sen says.   the story

Tods Aerospace finalist for materials innovation award

UK-based Tods Aerospace has collaborated with Technical Fibre Products (TFP) to develop a nonwoven veil for static dissipation applications. The innovation was developed  to overcome the limitations of current state-of-the-art products available in the market and is tailored for composite applications in commercial and military aircraft fuel systems. The resulting technology, a nonwoven veil material, comes from an industry collaboration between Tods Aerospace and Technical Fibre Products (TFP, Kendal, Cumbria, UK).

“Electrostatic dissipation is a requirement for nearly all glass-based composite materials used in fuel systems for modern composite-wing aircraft,” says Sean Cooper, materials and manufacturing development manager for Tods Aerospace. “Low-level electrical conductivities are required to prevent a buildup of static charge in the structure and prevent the propagation of electrical effects through the fuel system during an external lightning strike. This process of electrostatic management is an absolute necessity to ensure the safe operation of the aircraft.” more

 Nanotubes make flexible antennas lighter than copper

Carbon nanotube fibers configured as wireless antennas can work as well as copper ones but weigh 20 times less, researchers report.   The antennas may offer practical advantages for aerospace applications and wearable electronics where weight and flexibility are factors. more    also longer article here with a downloadable report  

Something to Ponder:

(from the editor) Wearable technology...Can we repurpose waste or will be contributing to more of it?  This is the question we're asking in smart textiles and conductive fibers.   Good topic for future trade shows /symposia.  Read the Sage Article here

New Paper-Based Flexible Supercapacitor for Powering Wearable Devices

Researchers from the U.S. and Korea used a simple layer-by-layer coating technique in order to develop a paper-based flexible supercapacitor capable of being used to help power wearable devices.

The device uses metallic nanoparticles for coating cellulose fibers in the paper, developing supercapacitor electrodes with high energy and power densities - and the finest performance until now in a textile-based supercapacitor.   more

Electro Conductive Fiber Market Forecast Including Growth Factors, Types And Application By Regional Geography 2017

The “Electro Conductive Fiber Market” Report offers an inclusive and decision-making overview, including definitions, classifications and its applications. The Electro Conductive Fiber market is anticipated to reflect a positive growth trend in forthcoming years. The essential driving forces behind the growth and popularity of Electro Conductive Fiber market is analysed detailed in this report.   More

Another use for conductive fibers: The Next Generation Of Smart Bandage

"Smart bandage technology is something I’ve touched on a few times.  Most of the time, the technology has involved being able to monitor the health of a wound without ‘undressing’ the bandage.  Some take on a more active role however, such as administering insulin to manage blood glucose levels."   more

Researchers Combine Carbon Nanotubes and Nanocellulose to 3D Print Conductive Microfibers

D printing technology can only go as far as the different materials that are able to be printed&ldots;but from metal and plastic to sand and even food, I don’t think we have to worry about running out of possible 3D printing materials. Nanofibrillated cellulose (nanocellulose or NFC), a novel biomaterial with multiple industrial and scientific uses, is a protein that’s been used in wound care, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are small tubes of carbon created on the nanoscale, have applications in industrial safety. Other than being 3D printable, what do these materials have in common? Engineers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have answered that question, by combining CNTs and NFC to 3D print strong, conductive microfibers.    More

New VOLT Smart Yarns Revolutionizes Conductive Yarn Marketplace

Global manufacturing leader of high-tech, innovative textiles, Supreme Corporation, introduces VOLT Smart Yarns, a revolutionary and highly conductive yarn for tomorrow’s advanced smart fabrics.

Capable of previously unattainable high levels of conductivity on the order of 1.9 Ohms per meter, each VOLT Smart Yarn contains up to four wires the diameter of a human hair. Engineered for use with commercial sewing machines, VOLT Smart Yarns can be woven or knitted into fabrics that heat, control switches and volume, interact with wireless technology and that can become sensors for impact and touch.   more

A flexible and highly sensitive capacitive pressure sensor based on conductive fibers with a microporous dielectric for wearable electronics

In this study, a flexible and highly sensitive capacitive pressure sensor has been fabricated by coating a microporous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomeric dielectric onto conductive fibers. Conductive fibers were prepared by depositing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in poly(styrene-block-butadiene-styrene) (SBS) polymer on the surface of Twaron fibers.    more

Graphene and CNTs: Commercialization after the hype

Graphene and CNT applications within the advanced composites sector are still at a relatively early stage of the commercialization process, but as the availability of materials or dispersions of consistent quality has increased, a number of composite materials and components are starting to incorporate these nanomaterials.   more

Wearable sensors reach their first billion-dollar year, with growth coming in three waves

 By Mr James Hayward, Senior Technology Analyst, IDTechEx    www.IDTechEx.com

IDTechEx predict that 2017 will be the first billion dollar year for wearable sensors. These critical components are central to the core value proposition in many wearable devices. The "Wearable Sensors 2018-2028: Technologies, Markets & Players" report includes IDTechEx's latest research and forecasts on this topic, collating over 3 years of work to provide a thorough characterisation and outlook for each type of sensor used in wearable products today.

Despite sales volumes from wearable products continuing to grow, creeping commoditisation squeezes margins, with hardware sales being particularly vulnerable. This has led to some consolidation in the industry, with several prominent failures and exits, and challenging time even amongst market leaders in each sector. As hardware margins are squeezed, business models are changing to increasingly focus on the valuable data generated once a device is worn. Sensors are responsible for the collection and quality of that data, so understanding the capabilities and limitations of different sensor platforms is critical to understanding the progress of the industry as a whole.

In the report, IDTechEx address 21 different types of wearable sensor across 9 different categories as follows: Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), optical sensors, electrodes, force/pressure/stretch sensors, temperature sensors, microphones, GPS, chemical & gas sensors & others. Hundreds of examples from throughout the report cover a breadth of technology readiness, ranging from long-established industries to early proof-of-concepts. The report contains information about the activities of over 115 different companies, with primary content (including interviews, exhibition or site visits by the authors) to more than 80 different companies, large and small.

IDTechEx describe wearable sensors in three waves. The first wave includes sensors that have been incorporated in wearable for many years, often being originally developed for wearable products decades ago, and existing as mature industries today. A second wave of wearable sensors came following huge technology investment in smartphones. Many of the sensors from smartphones could be easily adapted for use in wearable products; they could be made-wearable. Finally, as wearable technology hype and investment peaked, many organisations identified many sensor types that could be developed specifically with wearable products in mind. These made-for-wearable sensors often remain in the commercial evaluation or relatively early commercial sales today, but some examples are already becoming significant success stories.

Billions of wearable electronic products are already sold each year today. Many have already experienced significant hardware commoditisation, with tough competition driving prices down. Even as wearable devices become more advanced, introducing more sensors and better components to enhance value propositions, lessons of history tell us that hardware will always be prone to commoditisation. As this happens the role of sensors only becomes more important; with hardware prices being constantly squeezed, increasing proportions of the value that companies can capture from products will be from the data that the products can generate.

The key hardware component for capturing this data is the sensors, so understanding the development and prospects of sensors today is critical to predicting the potential for this entire industry in the future. "Wearable Sensors 2018-2028: Technologies, Markets & Players" is written to address the needs of any company or individual looking to gain a clearer, independent perspective on the outlook for various types of wearable sensor. The report answers detailed questions about technology, markets and industry trends, and supported by years of primary research investment collated and distilled within.

New development- Electricity from Yarns

Highly twisted coiled carbon nanotube yarns termed “twistron,” generate electricity efficiently.

A team of international scientists from the United States, South Korea and China led by researchers at The University of Texas-Dallas (UT Dallas) and Hanyang University, South Korea have reported in Science magazine that these harvester yarns in electrochemical environment can transform mechanical energy to electricity without any external voltage source, in other words without the need of external batteries.  link

Three-Dimensional Highly Stretchable Conductors from Elastic Fiber Mat with Conductive Polymer Coating

The manufacture of stretchable conductors with well-reserved electrical performance under large-degree deformations via scalable processes remains of great importance. In this work, a highly stretchable 3D conductive framework consisted of polyurethane fiber mat (PUF) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is reported through facile approaches, electrospinning and in situ interfacial polymerization, which was then backfilled with poly(dimethylsiloxane) to obtain 3D conductors. The excellent stretchability of the 3D conductive network imparted the as-prepared electrode superior mechanical durability. What’s more, the applied strains can be effectively accommodated by the arrangement and orientation of the fibers resulting in relatively stable electrical performance with only 20% increased resistance at 100% stretching. Meanwhile, the resistance of the conductor could keep constant during 2000 times of bending and showed slightly increase during 100 times of 50% stretching. The potential in the applications of large-area stretchable electrodes were demonstrated by the construction of LED arrays with the PUF based conductors as electrical connections.   link

Touch-Sensitive Fibers Eyed for Use in Wearable Devices
Touch-sensitive technology could be coming to wearables thanks to new elastic fibers developed by researchers at North Carolina State University.  Touchscreen-like capability may be coming to wearables thanks to new touch-sensitive elastic fibers developed by researchers at North Carolina State University.

A team of scientists at the university have developed soft and stretchable fibers that can detect touch, strain, and twisting, said Michael Dickey, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. The fibers—which are microscopic—could be useful for integrating electronics in new places, including wearable technology, he said.

(more)     ALSO   here.

Could Bacteria-Coated Nanofiber Electrodes be Key to Cleaning Polluted Water?

Researchers from Cornell University have recently discovered a cost-effective and unique method of cleaning wastewater. Bioelectrochemical engineers and material scientists made nano fiber electrodes from electro-spun carbon then covered them in PEDOT, a conductive polymer. This coating allowed a certain type of bacteria, *Geobacter sulfurreducens, to be applied electrically. The entire process takes several hours until it forms an easily visible sheet of nanofibers.  (more)

 

Wearable Touch Sensors: Stretchable Conductive Fibers
Researchers from North Carolina State University have created conductive and stretchable wires that can sense torsion (twisting), strain (elongation), and touch. The video only shows the latter mode of sensing in which the metal inside the fibers detects touch via changes in capacitance. Touch screens on smart phones and tablets utilize similar principles, which are implemented here in a stretchable fiber form factor. These types of sensors may be useful for stretchable electronics, soft robotics, and electronic textiles.

The fibers in the first portion of the video are silicone, but the fibers used in the publication (and the latter portion of the video) are Hytrel. The liquid metal is EGaIn (eutectic gallium indium), which is liquid metal at room temperature and is considered to have low toxicity.  
The paper, “Stretchable Capacitive Sensors of Torsion, Strain, and Touch Using Double Helix Liquid Metal Fibers,” is published online in Advanced Functional Materials.
Source/more

Making wires of polymers chains

Researchers model new route to molecular wires suitable for use in miniature electronics  read the story

PAPER could be the future of electronics: Researchers reveal radical low cost printing method that could revolutionize flexible devices
It's made by coating paper with soft ionic gels, making it electrically conductive.   It costs $1.30 per square meter and 30 meters of it could be made per minute.
When an electrical current is applied to the paper, it glows bright blue.   Read more:

Fed grant backs nanofiber development: Rice University joins Department of Energy 'Next Generation Machines' initiative

Rice University scientists who developed conductive fibers made entirely of carbon nanotubes will enhance their invention with the aid of a grant from the Department of Energy.   Read the release here

A Better Material for Flexible Electronics

Recently a group of researchers at the University of Illinois College of Engineering have developed a type of textile made of thin carbon nanotubes (CNT) that is highly conductive and has a toughness that is about 50 times higher that current copper films used nowadays. Carbon nanotubes are tiny cylinders of graphene with a diameter of few nanometers (nm) – this is about 1,000 times thinner than a human hair. Even with size, CNT are much stronger that steel of carbon fiber, more conductive than copper and lighter than aluminum. However, to assemble and weaving nanotubes to create a particular structure is very difficult given their sizes and the difficulty in controlling their geometry.    more

Touch-sensitive fibers put new twist on controlling electronic devices

We're used to touchscreens, but now researchers have created new, touch-sensitive fibers that can be used to interact with electronic devices. The microscopic fibers are soft, stretchable and capable of detecting touch, strain and twisting, all of which could lead to new sorts of wearable devices and sensing applications.

The fibers created at North Carolina State University are made of a extremely thin strands of a tube-like polymer filled with a liquid metal alloy of eutectic gallium and indium (EGaIn). The strands are a few hundred microns in diameter, or just a little thicker than a human hair.   more

Circuitex® Conductive Technology Advances Design Flexibility in Smart Apparel

SCRANTON, Pa., Feb. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Biomaterials, Inc., a global leader in conductive solutions for smart textiles applications, has collaborated with Bemis Associates to develop a seamless, conductive advanced material that allows for simple and durable integration of electronics into apparel.

This fully-bonded, conductive material is engineered with Noble's Circuitex® technology and provides for the detection, transmission and protection of electronic signals in a soft and flexible format. Its unique construction provides designers with complete freedom to design smart garments with integrated stretch and durability using Bemis Sewfree® Bonding.   more

How researchers created twisted semiconductors for 3D projection

Editor comment:  We've long maintained that we expect entire circuits to be embedded in a fiber, just like a highway has gas stations, traffic lights, etc. enroute.

A team of chemical engineers guided the attachment of small semiconductor nanoparticles to each other by learning from nature’s very own twisted structures: DNA and proteins

Researchers at the University of Michigan and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel teamed up to discover a way to mass-produce spiral semiconductors that can produce 3D images. In the future, this could mean that smartphones and other consumer electronics devices could be capable of producing 3D images.   more

Are smart textiles ready for the real world? 

Over the past decade, there has been a slow but sure evolution of wearable electronics, including smart textiles, designed primarily to monitor body functions and communicate with the Internet of Things. But a great many were not especially wearable, and some never made it out of the lab. The tide, however, seems to be turning. Read more

Conductive Yarn Industry Report introduced a Market Segment, Product Types, with Sales, Revenue, Price, Market Share and Growth, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, Size, Share, Demand, Analysis, Manufacturers, Type and Application, Forecast 2016 to 2021

Global Conductive Yarn Industry 2016 is an analytical research report that delves into the dynamics of the global Conductive Yarn industry.It presents an executive-level blueprint of the market with key focus on its operations in globe. In a lucid chapter-wise format, the report presents the historical statistics of the Conductive Yarn market in addition to studying the competitive landscape. The purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive overview of the market for industry participants. Key findings of this report will help companies operating in the Conductive Yarn market to identify the opportunities that they can capitalize on to propel growth.

The study analyzes the Conductive Yarn industry in detail. To begin with, it enumerates the primary market operations, evaluating the nature and specific characteristics of products and services it provides. In the following chapters, the study classifies the Conductive Yarn market in terms of its varied product types, applications, network of supply chain, and geography. Based on the market segmentation, the report analyzes the competitive landscape of the Conductive Yarn market and lays down the development status of key regions in globally.   MORE

Knitted muscle could power the supersuits of the future

Knitting isn’t just for grandmas: Scientists are using the process to make artificial muscle that moves more like we do. In a study published today in Science Advances, researchers created a textile actuator, or textuator—a new kind of smart fabric that can control movement. They coated cellulose (an organic compound found in plant cell walls that makes up everything from plastic to cotton fibers) “yarn” with a special polymer called polypyrrole that shifts and stretches in response to electricity. The team found that woven smart yarn was able to withstand great force, whereas a knitted pattern was able to stretch.   more

 

Self-healing, stretchable, transparent and conductive ionic conductor                     THIS IS BIG
Scientists, including several from the University of California, Riverside (UCR), have developed a transparent, self-healing, highly stretchable conductive material that can be electrically activated to power artificial muscles and could be used to improve batteries, electronic devices and robots.

According to information provided by UCR, the findings, recently published in the journal Advanced Material, represent the first time scientists have created an ionic conductor (materials that ions can flow through) that is transparent, mechanically stretchable and self-healing. Ionic conductors are a class of materials with key roles in energy storage, solar energy conversion, sensors and electronic devices.   more

 

Progress for solar powered smart textiles
The breakthrough, which on a technical level is similar to the recent ‘solar textile’ advances at the Georgia Institute of Technology, could in theory turn garments into wearable, solar powered batteries which never need to be plugged in. It’s been suggested that these types of developments have the potential to one day revolutionise the wearable technology industry – particularly in the world of military textiles where heavy and bulky batteries are always looking to be replaced.  more

 

Research: self-charging fibres for smart textiles
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US and the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems in China claim to have made the first hybrid self-charging power textile system that can harvest both solar energy and the mechanical energy from a person’s movements. These energies can then be stored as chemical energy in fibre-shaped supercapacitors.   more

 

Medical textiles: what’s next?
Health in hands,” is one of the catch phrases that illustrate a new focus in health care today. Proactive health care by monitoring and managing health issues continues to gain broader acceptance, particularly in developed and developing economies. Textiles of many kinds enhance health care products and contribute to the next phase of improvements.   More

 

DuPont Microcircuit Materials Introduces Pure Copper Conductive Ink
Offers More Cost-effective Design Flexibility for Today’s Printed Electronics
Research Triangle Park, N.C., Nov. 14, 2014 – DuPont Microcircuit Materials (DuPont) is introducing its first pure copper conductive ink for photonic curing, DuPont™ PE510 copper conductor.  DuPont™ PE510 is a cost-effective alternative to silver conductor inks for a variety of possible applications and is the newest product in a suite of conductive ink materials specifically tailored for use in certain types of antenna, membrane touch switch (MTS), radio-frequency identification (RFID), and consumer electronic applications.  more

Also, see article about stretchable inks: here

IPC Meeting on Standards for Textiles and Stretchable/Wearable Printed Electronics was held in late December.  Contact us for a report of that meeting.

Bendy artificial muscle is made of pure nylon, still stronger than you

An  MIT breakthrough allows engineers to create artificial muscles that bend by simply heating nylon fibers.  more    Thisit is an exciting breakthrough, and the editor wonders if artificial nerves can't also be created with conducitve fibers.

Textile Generates Power from Sun and Motion

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created a fabric that can harvest energy from sunshine and motion.
The hybrid power textile combines these two types of electricity generation into a single fabric. It could help pave the way for manufacturing apparel and other products that could provide their own source of energy to power smart phones, global positioning systems, or other devices.  more  ...
also here   .....  and here

Intel is laying off a major portion of its wearables group

Intel is denying that the company is stepping back from wearables, though has not directly commented on the layoff news. Here is the company’s statement in full  (more)

Graphene-fed silkworms produce super-strong, electrically conductive silk

Here's an unsual story:  Scientists may have found another use for silk. Previously, the natural protein fiber was predominantly used in the textile industry. Researchers have now observed that the properties of silk can be manipulated if silkworm larvae are fed a new-age diet consisting of graphene and carbon nanotubes.  Read more

Rice University Researchers Find Ways to Improve Graphene Nanoribbons

For decades, carbon fiber has been considered as a pillar of strength in the field of materials manufacturing. Rice University scientists are now finding ways to improve these carbon fibers to enhance its properties.

The scientists discovered that the polymer chains that develop a common carbon fiber are susceptible to misalignment during the manufacturing process. This misalignment is considered as a defect that the researchers compared to a faulty zipper that leads to weakening of the product.  (Picture and more)

Here's a Patent for Metalized Coating of Optical Fibers

Interesting patent, details.  By the way, one of our members might have a simpler method.  Give us a call.

Highly Conductive and Flexible Fiber for Textile Electronics Obtained by Extremely Low-Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition of Pt

Sparse details at: link

Scientists Use Bacteria to Create Super-Thin Electrical Wires

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has sponsored a team of scientists that has genetically modified a common soil bacteria and used it create electrical wires-- thousands of times thinner than a human hair-- that can conduct electricity.

Shrinking electronics is not a new concept. As electronic devices expand function and applications, researchers seek technology that is smaller, faster and more powerful than ever before. With that research, advances in nanotechnology that allow industry experts to manufacture materials that are only billionths of a meter in thickness, have become possible.  more

Industry Standards Update! 

Previously we raised the issue of standards for conductive fibers.  We also noted that discussions are underway at US Department of Commerce, and IFAI on developing standards.  Now we are joined by IPC (formerly Institute for Printed Circuits) who has developed a Flexible Hybrid Electronics Committee.  We are involved with them also, and this is a call to our members who wish to be involved.  Do contact us; and also we will be sending you update emails.

A Chemist and a Designer Team Up to Weave Solar Panels Into Fabric

For years, fabric designer Marianne Fairbanks made solar-charged handbags. Her company, Noon Solar, was geared toward the high-end, urban-based fashion market and, at its peak, was selling in 30 stores in the United States and Canada. While Noon Solar closed its doors in 2010, Fairbanks, who joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014 as an assistant professor in the school of human ecology, was still intrigued with the concept of solar design.

Once she arrived on campus, Fairbanks discovered Trisha Andrew, an assistant professor of organic chemistry now at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Andrew’s specialty is in developing low-cost, lightweight solar cells. Specifically, she had created an organic dye-based solar cell on paper.

The collaboration between the two began with an innocent phone call.

“I asked Trish,” says Fairbanks, “if we could apply her idea that she’d used on paper onto a textile. And that’s how our project started.”   Read more.

Conductive Composites opens second fiber coating line

 
Proof of growth, Conductive Composites Heber City, Utah, announced the addition of a second coated fiber line to its production plant in Cleveland, Utah. “Adding a second coating line to our production plant will essentially double our material supply capabilities to meet demand which has increased dramatically in the past six months,” said Ray Chatelin, vice president of operations.

“Our new fiber plant opened about a year ago and we have already received enough demand to necessitate adding a second production line. I think this speaks to the market need for our materials and products and the value we deliver to our customers,” stated Nathan Hansen, president of Conductive Composites. “This expansion would not be possible without our government partners and federal programs like Title III and SBIR. Additional materials will go to support defense applications, the commercialization of products developed during these programs, and growing commercial business sales.”   more

 

LG Innotek unveils flexible textile pressure sensors

LG Innotek today announced a development of new concept textile flexible pressure sensors. This sensor senses pressure from the entire surface of the sensor and it is even bendable. Read more

"Smart Shirt" Keeps IndyCar Racer Kanaan on Track

Another example of a smart shirt in action--using conductive fibers, of course.  Read the Dalas story here

Microsoft Mood Shirt Reacts To and Influences Feelings.

Conductive fibers and smart fabrics are increasing in importance every day.  Read the story here.

Hyper-Giant Conductivity Observed at Room Temperature

Berlin/IDTechEx: Hyper-Giant Conductivity Observed at Room Temperature in metal/carbon compouind materials using 3-D lithoography with x,y, and t beam control for this Koops-GranMat®, process.   Koops-GranMat® can replace cooled superconducting materials in present appications and will revolutionaze electronics, THz switching, photonics, and energy transport.  For information contact Hans W. P. Koops in Ober-Ramstadt, Germany hans.koops@t-online.de

Dr. Koops and your editor spent considerable time toegther in Berlin, and we feel this process might be truly revolutionary.

U.S. Consortium Commits $317 Million for Advanced Textiles Development

A newly-announced private/public collaboration will invest $317 million towards developing the next generation of textile innovations in the United States.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense, a consortium of 89 manufacturers, universities, industry and non-profits organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will form the New Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Hub. The consortium – operating as Advanced Functional Fabrics of America – will be leading the research work, under the management of the U.S. Army.

The U.S. Department of Defense will invest $75 million in the program, which will be combined with nearly $250 million in contributions from non-federal entities to fund the next generation fiber-textile chain research. Leading technology firms such as Bose, Intel and many innovative textile companies are involved in the effort.

The new revolutionary fiber institute is the eighth manufacturing innovation hub initiative by President Obama administered through the U.S. Department of Defense. These institutes are aimed at developing high-tech sectors in the U.S. to enable them to be competitive, especially in the manufacturing sector.  citation

Hemp waste fibers form basis of supercapacitor more conductive than graphene 

Comprised of a lone hexagonal honeycomb lattice layer of tightly packed carbon atoms, graphene is one of the strongest, lightest, and most conductive compounds ever discovered. Bottom line, it’s an extraordinary composite. However, a scientist from New York’s Clarkson University says he’s found a way to manufacture hemp waste into a material “better than graphene.” Moreover, the scientist — known to his peers as Dr. David Mitlin — says creating this graphene-like hemp material costs but a minuscule fraction of what it takes to produce graphene.  more

Textile Electronics Standards Workshop to be Held at NC State University

A workshop that will be held at the campus of North Carolina State University on the topic of standards for wearable devices, to be held March 8th and 9th.  One entire day of the workshop will be focused on standards for textile electronics.   Here is a link to the workshop....http://www.assistworkshops.com/wearable-standards/ .

The Iron Stepping Stones To Better Wearable Tech Without Semiconductors
The road to more versatile wearable technology is dotted with iron. Specifically, quantum dots of iron arranged on boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). The new material is the subject of a study published in Scientific Reports in February, led by Yoke Khin Yap, a professor of physics at Michigan Technological University.  Yap says the iron-studded BNNTs are pushing the boundaries of electronics hardware. The transistors modulating electron flow need an upgrade.  More

 

New Type of Nanowires, Built with Natural Gas Heating

A team of Korean researchers, affiliated with UNIST has recently pioneered in developing a new simple nanowire manufacturing technique that uses self-catalytic growth process assisted by thermal decomposition of natural gas. According to the research team, this method is simple, reproducible, size-controllable, and cost-effective in that lithium-ion batteries could also benefit from it.  read more

Fiber Optics Transmit Data and Power Over Same Cable

In the latest attempt to confront the growing power demands of wireless communications, a research team from the University of Electro-Communications in Japan has invented a fiber optic system that transmits both data and power over the same cable.  The research team, led by Motoharu Matsuura, has shown that the new system is capable of sending up to 60 watts over a distance of 300 meters. The researchers suggest that the fiber optic cable would be ideal for the growing infrastructure behind small cells—low-power, short-range radio terminals that backhaul data from the edge of a wireless network.  read more

Breakthrough enables ultra fast transport of electrical charges in polymers

A research team at Umeå University has showed, for the first time, that a very efficient vertical charge transport in semiconducting polymers is possible by controlled chain and crystallite orientation. These pioneering results, which enhance charge transport in polymers by more than 1,000 times, have implications for organic opto-electronic devices and were recently published in the journal Advanced Materials.  more

Micro-Coax Announces Price Reduction on ARACON Fibers and Braids

Micro-Coax announced today that the company has significantly reduced prices, as much as forty percent, on ARACON fibers and braids.  more    This is major news in this marketplace!

Nano-Coating makes Coaxial Cables Lighter:  Rice University scientists replace metal with carbon nanotubes for aerospace use

Common coaxial cables could be made 50 percent lighter with a new nanotube-based outer conductor developed by Rice University scientists. The Rice lab of Professor Matteo Pasquali has developed a coating that could replace the tin-coated copper braid that transmits the signal and shields the cable from electromagnetic interference. The metal braid is the heaviest component in modern coaxial data cables.- See more   This could be a game changer if the coatings are robust.

500 LEDs Bring an Interactive Textile to Life

Fabric can be so much more than just the materials we use to keep ourselves clothed and warm. Fabric can be alive. And 29-year-old Swedish textile designer Malin Bobeck is an artist who breathes life into fabric. We last covered her work while she was still a student at the Swedish School of Textiles, weaving glowing fabrics with optical fibers.   The  story  This is really exciting!

Shocking! 'Electric Eel' Fibers Could Power Wearable Tech

Stretchy fibers that mimic electric eels could be woven into clothing to power wearable technology one day, new research suggests.  In experiments, these flexible fibers produced enough power to run electronic lights and watches.  Read more...

Conductive Silicon is Used to Make Flexible Circuits
https://hackaday.com/2016/01/07/conductive-silicone-makes-flexible-circuits/

Can Carbon Nanotubes Replace Copper?

This is the BIG question!  Now, a new technology, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), is emerging that could someday become a lightweight alternative to copper wire or conductive shielding in automotive, aerospace and defense applications.  A carbon nanotube is composed of a single layer of carbon atoms in a cylindrical configuration. The tubes can be single-walled or multiwalled. CNTs have been constructed with a length-to-diameter ratio of up to 132,000,000-to-1.  read the article

Manufacturing Wearable Computers with 3D-Printed Textiles 

3D Printing leading to conductive textiles andwearable printed computers.  The majority of current smart textiles have conductive fibers which are either woven or knitted into the material during production or applied to the ... more  (The company also now has a listing on our Product & Manufacturers Directory.)

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USING CONDUCTIVE ADHESIVE FIBERS AS A DATA INTERFACE

United States Patent Application 20150380843 Abstract: An apparatus and method for using conductive adhesive fibers as a data interface are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: a first array of conductive adhesive fiber fastener pads configured for attachment to a first item; a second array of conductive adhesive fiber fastener pads configured for attachment to a second item, each pad of the first and second array being fabricated with a hook or loop removable fastener, each removable fastener being electrically conductive, the first array of pads being arranged to align with the second array of pads to create a plurality of independent electrical connections when the first item is removably attached to the second item, the plurality of independent electrical connections establishing a data interface connection between the first item and the second item.  link

LiU researchers create electronic plants

Using semi-conductive polymers, both analog and digital electronic circuits can be created inside living flowers, bushes and trees, as researchers at Linköping University Laboratory for Organic Electronics have shown. The results are being published in Science Advances.

With the help of the channels that distribute water and nutrients in plants, the research group at the Laboratory for Organic Electronics, under the leadership of Professor Magnus Berggren, have built the key components of electronic circuits. In an article in Science Advances, they show how roses can produce both analog and digital electronic circuits, which over the long term could be used, for example, to regulate the plant’s physiology.   more

Editor's comments:  Now the big question is whether we, as a species, will have the wisdom to use this for good or for evil.

Bonded wire suits medical apps

Anomet Medical Implant Wire combines two or three metals on the interior and exterior, which are metallurgically bonded to achieve properties not available in a single alloy. Suited for coils, micro coils, electrodes, and leads requiring such properties as a conductive interior with a bio-compatible exterior, or high strength and corrosion resistance, the wire is said to provide greater ductility and formability than filled or plated wire.   link

Patent pending conductive fiber/textile transistor available for licensing

The Italian National Research Council announces a patent pending technology available for licensing.    The proposed  invention relates to a conductive fiber material that has been obtained starting from a textile fiber, that can be natural or artificial.   Such fiber can be modified by functionalization with metal nanoparticles and by treatment with a conductive polymer.  Both these treatments contribute to make this fiber conductive at the level of a metal wire, thus enabling the use of these fibers for making electrical connections in textile forms.

In addition, starting from this fiber, also the concept of textile transistor has been developed, thus providing the basic block of any complex electronic circuit in textile form.    PFor information, contact:  Paolo Foà. Managing partner, N&G Consulting, Technology Transfer and Licensing; Corso Di Porta Vittoria, 9; 20122 Milano - Italy
Phone +39 02 362161   Fax +39 02 36216366   Email p.foa@ngpatent.it    www.ngconsulting.it

 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND THE INDUSTRIAL FABRICS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL TO HOST FIRST-EVER SMART FABRICS SUMMIT

read details on our website, here:  http://www.cfibermfg.com/releases

Sensing a Change: Q&A with Deepak Prakash, Global Director of Marketing for Digital Health at Vancive Medical Technologies

As the Council has discussed previously, this is an area ripe for innovation and inclusion of conductive fibers.  Read Deepak's article here.

Beki-Shield® stainless steel fibers for conductive plastics

Beki-Shield® is a stainless steel filler material used in plastic compounds to provide electrical conductive properties.  They can be used as a master-batch and have been designed for easy dispersion into the polymer matrix for both injection molding (dry blend) and for compounding. Beki-Shield® is also available in rovings.  information

Flexible sensors come to market thanks to tens of millions of investment

Large investments have been made to enable flexible, thin sensors rather than rigid sensors.  $75 million was recently awarded by the US Department of Defense to establish a new Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) for flexible hybrid electronics in San Jose, California. Under the acronym FHE MII, this new entity will follow a hub and node approach managed by the FlexTech Alliance.  more

Functional catalyst for alternative fuel source by depositing nanosheets on a flexible carbon cloth

Researchers have explored molybdenum-based catalysts, notably MoS2, as a potential various electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reactions. Research of MoS2 nanoparticles show that catalysis happens on edges or at defect websites. Because of this controlling the MoS2 morphology might result in controlling its catalytic exercise. Nevertheless, there are nonetheless a number of obstacles to creating MoS2 a possible industrial materials.   more

New nanomaterial maintains conductivity in 3-D

The research holds potential for increased energy storage in high efficiency batteries and supercapacitors, increasing the efficiency of energy conversion in solar cells, for lightweight thermal coatings and more. The study is published today in the online journal Science Advances.  more

 

New Layering Process Brings Graphene's 2D Properties to the 3D World

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) have taken a significant step towards transforming high quality 2D graphene sheets into 3D macroscopic structures that could be used for applications such as thermal management for high power electronics, structural composites, flexible and stretchable electrodes for energy storage, sensors, and membranes.

In research published in the journal Science, the RPI researchers developed a new layered structure for graphene that addresses the problem of achieving the mechanical strength of graphene in its 3D form while maintaining its attractive thermal and electrical properties in its 2D form.    read more

The Economist magazine publishes overview article about conductive fibers and your trade association.
Woven electronics.  An uncommon thread.

Conductive fibres: From lighter aircraft to electric knickers, flexible filaments raise a wide range of interesting possibilities...    Read the story here.

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