Abstract
Abstract We explore the conductive mechanism of yarns made from metallic fibers and/or traditional textile fibers. It has been proposed for the first time, to our knowledge, that probe span length plays a great role in the conductivity of metallic fiber-based yarns, which is determined by the probability and number of conductive fibers appearing on a cross section and their connecting on two neighboring sections in a yarn’s longitudinal direction. The results demonstrate that yarn conductivity is negatively influenced to a large extent by its length when metallic fibers are blended with other nonconductive materials, which is beyond the scope of conductivity theory for metal conductors. In addition, wicking and wetting performances, which interfere with fiber distribution and conductive paths between fibers, have been shown to have a negative influence on the conductivity of metallic fiber-based yarns with various structures and composed of different fiber materials. Such dependence of the conductivity on the probe span length, as well as on the moisture from air and human body, should get attention during investigation of the conductivity of metallic fiber-based composites in use, especially in cases in which conductive yarns are fabricated into flexible circuit boards, antennas, textile electrodes, and sensors.
Highlights
The replacement of electronic devices by electrically conductive fibrous materials plays an enormous role in the development of flexible, lightweight, launderable, and wearable e-textiles [1], which are applied in physiological sensing [2], flexible circuits [3], electromagnetic shielding [4], radiofrequency identification tags [5], and energy storage [6]
We have reported the conductive mechanism of metallic fiber-based conductive yarns
The influence of probe span length on yarn’s conductivity was explored for the first time, the reasons of which were summarized as the probability and number of conductive fibers appearing on any cross section and connecting between two neighboring sections in the longitudinal direction of yarn
Summary
The replacement of electronic devices by electrically conductive fibrous materials plays an enormous role in the development of flexible, lightweight, launderable, and wearable e-textiles [1], which are applied in physiological sensing [2], flexible circuits [3], electromagnetic shielding [4], radiofrequency identification tags [5], and energy storage [6]. In our previous work [21], we have reported that the probe span length measuring the electrical resistance of metallic fiber-blended yarns is a key factor influencing conductive composites’ percolation threshold and critical exponent. The effect of the probe span length of yarn on its conductivity is further explored and the mechanism of this distinctive electric character is interpreted from the perspective of fiber distribution and the possibility of formation of conductive paths between conductive fibers. Due to the fact that moisture from the environment and human body is a key factor affecting the properties of polymer materials and smart clothing made from conductive yarns, the wicking and wetting performances of conductive yarns are measured to simulate and analyze their effect on the conductivity of metallic fiberbased yarns. The conductive mechanism is again proved by the result that the wicking and wetting performances, which affect fiber distribution and conductive path formation, bring about changes in the conductivity of yarns
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