A Novel Wearable Thermal Functional Textile with Conductive Materials

A contemporary wearable electronic collection with thermal regulation where pattern, heating position and temperature can be customised

The aim of this project is to develop a new generation of thermal textiles and specific manufacturing processes, based on wearable electronic technology, which can be incorporated into textile products for the provision of temperature control both in general apparel and in specialized medical applications.

The creation of the conductive fabric can be achieved by using a combination of textile-based technologies, which include a new form of multi-functional fibre and yarn developed by winding, doubling, twisting and weaving/knitting. A novel thermal fabric can be created on the theoretical basis of the resistive network model, i.e., sheet resistance, length resistance and contact resistance with fabric structure and density. By designing the heating patterns on the fabric, the heating location, pattern and temperatures can be controlled. This enables efficient use of energy and achievement of desired effect.

• Infra-red image of the back of a nude human subject (figure 1) • Temperature rise after the knitwear was applied to the human subject after 3 minutes (figure 2) and 20 minutes (figure 3), where red and green indicate high and low temperatures respectively • The knitwear was removed (figure 4). The high temperature regions show that more blood flows to the skin surface of the body so as to alleviate the symptoms of the pains.

Multiple heating areas in different shapes and with different temperatures on a same piece of fabric

Special Features and Advantages

A theoretical foundation for the feasibility of designing electronic fabrics with thermal conductivity
Provision of heat to multiple target areas on the same piece of fabric by designing the heating patterns and fabric structure
Conductive paths and heating areas can be incorporated into fabric during production, but not added to fabric later on by way of external modifications such as sewing
Appropriate heat distribution for energy conservation

Applications

Daily and outdoor apparel products
Home products
Healthcare and medical treatments
Other potential areas where soft thermal comfort is required

Award & Patent

Silver Medal – 42nd International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, Switzerland (April 2014)

Patent No:

12/569,893(US)

Principal Investigator

Dr Li LI

Institute of Textiles and Clothing

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