Abstract
In recent years, wearable technologies have attracted great attention in physical and chemical sensing applications. Wearable pressure sensors with high sensitivity in low pressure range (<10 kPa) allow touch detection for human-computer interaction and the development of artificial hands for handling objects. Conversely, pressure sensors that perform in a high pressure range (up to 100 kPa), can be used to monitor the foot pressure distribution, the hand stress during movements of heavy weights or to evaluate the cyclist’s pressure pattern on a bicycle saddle. Recently, we developed a fully textile pressure sensor based on a conductive polymer, with simple fabrication and scalable features. In this paper, we intend to provide an extensive description on how the mechanical properties of several fabrics and different piezoresistive ink formulation may have an impact in the sensor’s response during a dynamic operation mode. These results highlight the complexity of the system due to the presence of various parameters such as the fabric used, the conductive polymer solution, the operation mode and the desired pressure range. Furthermore, this work can lead to a protocol for new improvements and optimizations useful for adapting textile pressure sensors to a large variety of applications.
Highlights
In recent years, the field of wearable technology has attracted great attention and different kinds of sensors have been developed
The thermal behavior of the fabric was analyzed in Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and the resulting thermogram in the second heating scan (Figure S1) displays two main events, both endothermic: the highest temperature signal centered at 252 ◦ C that is typical of melting of the Nylon 6,6, crystal phase, the latter being a polyamide widely used in textile industry
This work investigates the physical mechanisms controlling the performance of textile pressure sensors directly fabricated onto different fabrics realized with natural and synthetic fibers
Summary
The field of wearable technology has attracted great attention and different kinds of sensors have been developed. The advent of this new technology is changing the way people interface with the external world. The most requested applications deal with wearable activity trackers that provide a powerful and detailed self-monitoring as well as an opportunity to directly control personal habits and behaviors. Such devices are usually based on inorganic electronics chips and are considered wearable because they are in contact with the body, typically the wrist. The most promising completely wearable and imperceptible sensors are those fabricated directly on fabric, that is, fully textile physical or chemical sensors
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
