Andreas Neudeck

Textile-Based Electronic Substrate Technology

The present paper presents a proceeding to prepare partially conductive textile structures as basic substrates to integrate sensors and microelectronic devices into textiles. The proceeding is based on two steps. The first is to create a textile prestructure by conventional textile technologies, such as Jacquard weaving, embroidery etc. using silver-coated polyamide threads. The second is a galvanic and/or electrochemical treatment of the textile prestructure. It will be shown that galvanic and electrochemical treatment of such structures permit a change in the conductivity of two to three orders of magnitude, modification of the surface as it is needed to get sensor properties, and insulation or encapsulation of the conducting structure.

Textile electrochemistry—from the conducting yarn via sensoric and interactive structures to robust and flexible textile micro systems and technical applications

The number of application fields of micro systems and microelectronic components is increasing continuously. International fairs clearly show smaller and compact circuits on foil substrates. Especially, the sensoric and actuatoric sensor systems become more flexible. However, nonrigid and extremely loadable and bendable systems may only be manufactured from textiles. The galvanic and electrochemical finishing of textiles is one way to build textile-based micro systems. A concept for the production of electrically highly conductive, functionalized, and interactive yarns is proposed. The first step of the concept, the highly conducting yarns, are already transferred into an industrialized production and are commercially available. Silver-coated polyamide yarns are already on the market since the end of the 1970s. Till now, the applications have been limited on the use of their anti-electrostatic and antimicrobic properties. The drawbacks of the yarns can be overcome by an electrochemical treatment to increase the metal layer and to create multilayer systems or functional top layers by anodization and other electrochemical techniques like the electro-polymerization and electro-deposition of paint. The treated yarns can be processed by any textile technology. Especially, the metal oxide layers of valve metals and the redox polymer layers are highly interesting due to their semiconducting properties. The surface treatment can be understood as a novel kind of textile finishing. In this way, high conductivity, nano-functionalized surfaces by electro-grafting and special redox-properties for an interactive release of drugs are available. First applications (electroluminescenting fabrics, woven electronic circuits, microelectronic devices as for example textile antennas, capacitors, solar cells and even interactive textiles for the controlled release of drugs) will be demonstrated in this contribution.

Intelligent Textiles and Trends

Textiles are common materials for many medical applications. They are used, for example, as bandages, medical stockings, or scrubs. Developments during the last 10 years in the areas of wearable electronics, smart textiles and material research offer new possibilities to create medical textiles with a higher level of functionality and allow the development of completely new active medical textiles. This trend was made possible by the interdisciplinary cooperation of engineers and scientists from textile research, electronics, informatics, and mechanical engineering, together with medical experts.

Textile Sensor- und Aktuatorlösungen für Prävention und Rehabilitation

Zusammenfassung In der Medizin wird eine Vielzahl funktioneller Textilien eingesetzt, da sie ein Höchstmaß an geometrischer und mechanischer Flexibilität bieten und die im Bereich der Prävention geforderte gute Patientencompliance gewährleisten. Die Integration von Sensoren und Aktuatoren in die Bekleidung selbst bietet dabei innovative Lösungen für die Prävention und Rehabilitation. Im Ergebnis zeigt sich, dass vor allem textilbasierte Präventions- und Rehabilitationssysteme dem Patienten bestmögliche Mobilität und Lebensqualität kombiniert mit höchstem Komfort bieten. Abstract In medicine there are many possible applications for smart textiles since they provide a great deal of goemetric and mechanical flexibility together with a good patient compliance. The integration of sensors and actuators into clothes constitutes an innovative solution for prevention and rehabilitation. Textile-based prevention and rehabilitation systems offer a very good patient mobility and quality of life combined with maximum convenience.