Electrical conductive textiles
Electrical conductivity is determinded by the availability of versatile charge carriers and refers to the ability of a material to conduct energy. Nowadays, more frequently electrical and electronical systems are integrated into textiles to ensure different functions. Electrically conductive textiles offer an interesting alternative to the integration of metalic wires in various applications as they are a lot more flexible due to their features in processing.
With the development of conductive textiles the basis for "smart textiles" has been created. They react to different physical stimuli such as temperature or pressure and therefore fulfil several functions:
- Active heat: The active heating function of conductive textiles offers the possibility to develop heatable clothes or heated seats.
- Illuminating function: Through the equipment and contacting of illuminating bodies with conductive textiles an active illuminating function can be established, which is applied in clothes or the automobile interieur.
- Sensor technology: For many smart textiles it is necessary to draw on textile-based sensors. By this means the health condition of a person can be monitored continually via clothes or modern textile based functions in the car can be established for security functions.
At resistances below 103 Ohm/m we talk about conductive textile fibres that have the ability to transport electricity. Conductivity can be established either through a fine and pure silver fibre, through silver-coated polymers or through polymers endowed with metal.