Everything you Need to Know About Electronic Textiles
Wearable electronic devices need no introduction. Smart rings, wristbands, watches, fitness trackers and body-mounted sensors are a few examples of wearables. A new entrant in this space is electronic textiles or E-textiles. As the name implies, e-textiles refer to fabrics that are embedded with electronic components. Though any electric component can be embedded, sensors, lights and batteries are the most common. Though the term e-textiles and smart textiles are often used interchangeably, they broadly differ. Smart textiles give the wearer added functionality whereas E-textiles include electrical signals of some sort.
E-textiles are also referred to as conductive clothing. Owing to its widespread popularity, the electronics textiles space has generated massive demand. Most consumers these days want lightweight electronic devices embedded within their clothing.
Components in e-textiles can also include electric wires. Certain e-textiles use mono filaments or conductive yarn. E-textiles don’t just have sports applications. Their use is widespread. It can be used to monitor sensations, transmit data and receive transmissions.
Applications of E-textiles
There are no two thoughts about the fact that technology makes our life easier. The application of e-textiles is not limited to just one thing. The applications vary and they are very specific to the specific needs of the user. E-textiles play an important role in medicine, safety and performance in general.
From healthcare to consumer goods, here are some of the most popular applications of E-textiles:
Healthcare
The most promising use of e-textiles is in the healthcare sector. It is super helpful when it comes to monitoring health conditions. When interactive textiles are integrated with electronic devices, algorithms can be used to gather and digitise data. From monitoring several aspects of a person’s health to improving blood circulation and wound healing, the use of medical wearables is much more than one can think. It can also be used to monitor blood pressure, heart rate and symptoms of a disease. E-textiles are usually in-built with biosensors which can be used to collect data on blood pressure. Electrodes can also be embedded into a patient gown or vest to measure and analyse temperature and heart rate. In patients that have suffered from a heart attack and dementia, the sensors are embedded in active wear, t-shirts and pants. Conductive materials can also be embedded into a fitted cap to provide insights into brain functioning and assists in treating neurological conditions including epilepsy.
Occupational Health & Safety
Employees working at factories are always at the risk of an electric injury, shock or burn. A smart textile system can detect an electrical injury. For example, a voltage drop on the wearer’s body. E-textiles ensure occupational safety. Construction workers usually work till late at night. LED lights can be fixed to the uniform which automatically turn on as soon as it gets dark. Besides this, smart components can also be integrated into the textiles. This can be used to send communication signals to any body-worn electric device.
Sports
E-textiles are widely used to measure athletic performance. For this reason, many companies are making garments and accessories from smart textiles. Based on the athlete’s motion, data can be tracked and recorded. Even smart insoles are extremely popular. It helps the runner improve their form and prevents them from any kind of injury. It even motivates sportsmen in training and exercise. The common wearables athletes usually wear are smartwatches, chest straps and footwear devices. E-textiles surely enhance sportswear functionality. They are being used by both amateur and professional athletes.
Types of E-textiles
Electronics can be embedded into textiles in various ways. They can be directly embedded, sewn in or laminated on.
Let’s look at embedded and laminated e-textiles a little deeper:
Embedded E-Textiles
Embedded textiles are extremely popular right now. In this type, electronic components are woven into the fabric. For example, mittens or gloves come with conductive yarn woven into the fabric. This particularly helps in cold places as it provides heating.
Laminated E-Textiles
Compared to embedded e-textiles, laminated ones are less appealing. Also, they are bulkier and thus they are not so popular. As the name implies, the components are not woven into the fabric. Instead, circuits and sensors are manufactured separately and attached to the fabric. However, in the future, if fabric circuit boards come up, the gap between embedded and laminated e-textiles will considerably reduce.
Conclusion
Though e-textiles bring exciting opportunities to the world of smart textiles and wearables, a few challenges still persist. The durability of electronic components is still a critical concern. Experts are still wary if a garment can withstand everyday wear and tear, and washing and stretching. Despite that being said, e-textile technologies continue to advance. Students who’ve completed fashion and apparel design courses can churn out new ideas to take advantage of this groundbreaking technology. E-textiles are versatile and thus their application is not limited to just one industry.
