Anthony Locicero, Associate Editor11.08.17
In what was the final Printed Electronics Symposium – the SGIA announced the new FP3 (functional printing, process and products) Conference – industry professionals discussed the past, present and future of e-textiles.
Here are some of the highlights:
During his presentation "Recent Developments in IPC Printed Electronics & E-textile Standards," MacDermid Autotype Technical Manager Neil Bolding said the e-textile market is expected to reach $5 billion by 2025.
E-textiles will include:
While there are already existing uses in military, aerospace, medical and some consumer wearables (more on that below), "Unlike printed electronics, there is no barrier technology competing with it," Bolding said. That will result in fast growth and need for standards, he added.
"Manufacturers and designers benefit from an industry-developed design standard," said Bolding.
However, Leonard Allison of Engineered Materials Systems noted, "Not everything is wearable and not everything is e-textile."
Printed Electronics in Fabrics
"Our industry has done a lot to make things better," Allison said. "A lot of people are still using inks that were developed 30 years ago."
Allison discussed the advantages of PTF circuitry:
There are still some hurdles in the way – the ability to attach or integrate IC chips “is probably the biggest thing holding back PTF circuitry," Allison noted. “It's hard to beat the way solder and copper work together.”
A new form factor must be found, one that Allison said is 3-D formable, pliable, soft, quiet, and less detectable.
“Compared to TPUs, it’s a dream to print on,” he said while discussing getting conductive ink onto fabric and nylon.
Because of the issues with TPU or resin-coated fabric – “You have to make sure you’re thinking about cost so that we can be in the realm of polyester film, in my opinion,” Allison noted –plastisol inks, which act as a carrier of conductive inks, can be introduced.
"You can print some pretty snazzy stuff and put it on the plastisol" or heat seal onto clothing, Allison said.
These inks can be used on any screenprinting equipment and put on a multitude of fabrics, per Allison.
"The last layer is an adhesive, which changes based on what you’re going to adhere to (on ink transfer systems)," he said.
In this case, a soft and pliable substrate is needed rather than stretchable, Allison added.
Washable, Waterproof & Wearable Connectors
David Schneider of Nicomatic discussed the smart textile market, segments and applications. There are flat cables within the garment. There's the connection from power to sensors. These cables are flexible, undetectable, and fully washable:
Piezoelectric fabric is the root of the power supply. Smart micro-connector controls data transmission, along with power storage and management.
A similar application is also used for medical devices, which assist staff with monitoring agitation, opening detection and humidity.
It's especially helpful for military and civil service personnel. A smart connector completes data transmission to measure Respiratory rate;
Here are some of the highlights:
During his presentation "Recent Developments in IPC Printed Electronics & E-textile Standards," MacDermid Autotype Technical Manager Neil Bolding said the e-textile market is expected to reach $5 billion by 2025.
E-textiles will include:
- Woven, knit/knitted textiles;
- Non-woven textiles;
- Laminated textiles;
- Braided textiles;
- Printed or embroidered textiles
While there are already existing uses in military, aerospace, medical and some consumer wearables (more on that below), "Unlike printed electronics, there is no barrier technology competing with it," Bolding said. That will result in fast growth and need for standards, he added.
"Manufacturers and designers benefit from an industry-developed design standard," said Bolding.
However, Leonard Allison of Engineered Materials Systems noted, "Not everything is wearable and not everything is e-textile."
Printed Electronics in Fabrics
"Our industry has done a lot to make things better," Allison said. "A lot of people are still using inks that were developed 30 years ago."
Allison discussed the advantages of PTF circuitry:
- Lower cost;
- Environmentally friendly;
- Various functional inks;
- Ease of integration into end use device;
- Can apply to a variety of substrate for varied form factor.
There are still some hurdles in the way – the ability to attach or integrate IC chips “is probably the biggest thing holding back PTF circuitry," Allison noted. “It's hard to beat the way solder and copper work together.”
A new form factor must be found, one that Allison said is 3-D formable, pliable, soft, quiet, and less detectable.
“Compared to TPUs, it’s a dream to print on,” he said while discussing getting conductive ink onto fabric and nylon.
Because of the issues with TPU or resin-coated fabric – “You have to make sure you’re thinking about cost so that we can be in the realm of polyester film, in my opinion,” Allison noted –plastisol inks, which act as a carrier of conductive inks, can be introduced.
"You can print some pretty snazzy stuff and put it on the plastisol" or heat seal onto clothing, Allison said.
These inks can be used on any screenprinting equipment and put on a multitude of fabrics, per Allison.
"The last layer is an adhesive, which changes based on what you’re going to adhere to (on ink transfer systems)," he said.
In this case, a soft and pliable substrate is needed rather than stretchable, Allison added.
Washable, Waterproof & Wearable Connectors
David Schneider of Nicomatic discussed the smart textile market, segments and applications. There are flat cables within the garment. There's the connection from power to sensors. These cables are flexible, undetectable, and fully washable:
- Does not need to operate while being wet;
- Must withstand a certain number of washes;
- Chemical resistance (chlorine, detergents, etc.);
- Mechanical attachment to fabric or printed ink; Printed ink: must be sealed while unmated (encapsulated);
- 3-D Flexibility;
- Conductance/Resistance ratings;
- Temperature Resistance;
- Stretchable / Stretchable encapsulate
Piezoelectric fabric is the root of the power supply. Smart micro-connector controls data transmission, along with power storage and management.
A similar application is also used for medical devices, which assist staff with monitoring agitation, opening detection and humidity.
It's especially helpful for military and civil service personnel. A smart connector completes data transmission to measure Respiratory rate;
- Heart rate;
- Body temperature;
- Humidity;
- Movement;
- Lights