Strand-spacing dependency on the tensile response of tri-component elastic-conductive composite yarns

Abstract

This study focuses on the effect of strand spacing on the tensile behavior of tri-component elastic-conductive composite yarns (t-ECCYs). The fabrication procedure of t-ECCYs was previously reported using a modified ring frame. The tensile data were analyzed with SPSS using one-way analysis of variance followed by post hoc Fisher’s least significant difference test (α = 0.05). The results demonstrate that with elevated strand spacing up to 14.0 mm, the breaking tenacity and extension at break of yarns increase, beyond which they reduce, and mean results were considered significantly different. Furthermore, a two-parameter Weibull distribution and box-whisker plot can be appropriately used to quantify the variability of tensile strength. It is evident that strand spacing plays a crucial role in influencing the structure and hence the final behavior of yarns. The shape of twisting triangle was obviously asymmetric, primarily due to modulus differences of its sub-strands in the resulting yarns. In particular, a bottom-and-right displacement of convergence points was observed with the increasing strand spacing. Finally, the electrical conductivity of t-ECCYs in various stretching states was characterized. With the superior conductivity under different stretching, t-ECCYs have tremendous prospects for wearable electronic applications. More importantly, desirable characteristics that are possibly possessed by the yarns are industrial weavability and knittability, which will pave a convenient but highly effective way for the large-scale production of wearable electronic textiles.