Structural architecture of wearable materials based on tri-component elastic-conductive composite yarn: toward a Joule heating application

Abstract

Highly stretchable and conductive yarns have attracted considerable interest as the building blocks for the next generation of wearable textiles. A method for producing tri-component elastic-conductive composite yarns (t-ECCYs) was reported previously. The objectives of this research were to investigate the thermal response and stability of a single t-ECCY, in fabric form, under different voltages and strain loads. The investigation showed that the yarn responded rapidly in terms of thermal response and showed a uniform surface temperature distribution under various applied voltages and strain deformations conditions. The stability of the yarn was also confirmed by alternating voltage on–off cycles. The performances of the yarn both in static and dynamic modes demonstrated its potentials in applying specific but uniform heat to garments. The results indicated that the t-ECCY-decorated knit fabrics were not only suitable for functions such as displaying and local heating, but also possessed good cyclic stability with little degradation in their functional properties after 50 cyclic, expand–release strain tests. The straightforward fabrication and excellent multifunctional features of the yarn represent a significant step forward in the further design and development of topologically complex, stretchable and wearable heating electronics.