Washability of e-textiles: current testing practices and the need for standardization

Sigrid Rotzler,Malte Von Krshiwoblozki,Martin Schneider-Ramelow

doi:10.1177/0040517521996727

Abstract

Washability is seen as one of the main obstacles that stands in the way of a wider market success of e-textile products. So far, there are no standardized methods for wash testing of e-textiles and no protocols to comparably assess the washability of tested products. Thus, different e-textiles that are deemed equally washable by their developers might present with very different ranges of reliability after repeated washing. This paper presents research into current test practices in the absence of e-textile-specific standards. Different testing methods are compared and evaluated and the need for standardized testing, giving e-textile developers the tools to comparably communicate and evaluate their products’ washability, is emphasized.

Highlights

Washability is seen as one of the main obstacles that stands in the way of a wider market success of e-textile products
With a large fraction of e-textile products developed for medical, personal protective equipment (PPE), and sports applications, resulting hygiene requirements make washability an essential property.[5]
This paper is able to underscore the need for e-textile-specific standardization to overcome the existing lack of comparability between differing employed methods

Summary

Introduction

Washability is seen as one of the main obstacles that stands in the way of a wider market success of e-textile products. There are no standardized methods for wash testing of e-textiles and no protocols to comparably assess the washability of tested products. Textile-integrated conductive materials or electronics, referred to as smart textiles or e-textiles, are a rapidly growing class of products These hybrid e-textiles can be characterized as textile products with additional functionality provided by the electronic or electrically conductive components. E-textiles constitute electronic products with additional—textile typical—requirements, resulting from integration into a textile base This is especially true for wearable e-textiles, products that are designed to be worn on or close to the body. The need for integrated conductive and electronic components to exhibit a level of washability comparable to their textile substrates arises from a growing demand for more sustainability. Some sources even claim washability with no (apparent) prior testing.[9,10]

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Conclusion