E-textiles applications

E-textiles may be defined as textiles with electronic properties, and the markets for E-textiles are rapidly growing. An E-textile is an application built within a textile. E-textiles are finding their use in wearable technology, sports and fitness markets, medical and health monitoring systems, sleep apnea monitoring systems, antenna applications, space, military, infotainment, fashion, and others. Conductive tapes, webbings, fabrics, and 3D preforms are being used for E-textile applications. E-textile markets will soon be a billion dollar industry. 

A woven sine-wave structure is shown in Figure 9.40, and a complex woven preform is shown in Figure 9.41. The electronics can be placed into slots for various E-textiles applications. 

Quality-control testing for each production run of an E-Textile application is absolutely essential for any product that comes in direct contact with an end user. 

Companies like the Swiss-based testing facility, SGS, offer testing of E-Textile applications including ... 

Hexible PVs that produce electricity at low currents (50-100mA) for charging LiPo or NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries are available through a few suppliers by incorporating PV film into an E-Textile application. However, this approach could be considered both... 

Although the most lucrative and utility-based E-Textile applications seem to be growing rapidly in medical applications, other uniquely fabric-based technologies appear to be burgeoning in other areas, particularly in fashion and entertainment. E-Textiles are beginning to find their place in mass markets around the world. 

Designers seeking to create an E-Textile application will need to choose an electronic platform from which to contfol the functions they desire in their work. The following platforms lend themselves well to beginners and experts alike to begin their projects ... 

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