Conductors for smart textiles by 3D printing on textile substrate: adhesion forces and flexibility

Abstract

Robust and flexible conductors, integrated into textiles is a prerequisite for wearable electronics. However, connecting conductors to electronic components creates a weak spot that hampers the widespread use of conductors in textiles. Our goal was to create intense contact between textiles and conducting material to create one coherent structure that will avoid the existence of stress points. We studied the performance of flexible materials applied through 3D printing in a way that intense bonding between textile substrate and the conducting system could be achieved, while maintaining flexibility. Different polymers were printed on PET/Co surfaces with the aim to increase the adhesion of the polymer onto the textile surface. This knowledge will bring new possibilities into the clothing and technical textile market. We showed that it is possible to deposit flexible polymers on PET/Co blends with excellent bonding strength, while the resulting textile structure has sufficient flexibility for use in wearable textiles.