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Piezoresistive Sensors on Textiles by Inkjet Printing and Electroless Plating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Amit Sawhney ,
Animesh Agrawal ,
Prabir Patra  and
Paul Calvert
Amit Sawhney
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Department of Materials and Textiles, 285, old west port road., North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 02747, United States, 508-910-6461, 508-999-9139
Animesh Agrawal
Affiliation:
[email protected], UMASS Dartmouth, Department of Materials and Textiles, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 02747, United States
Prabir Patra
Affiliation:
[email protected], UMASS Dartmouth, Department of Materials and Textiles, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 02747, United States
Paul Calvert
Affiliation:
[email protected], UMASS Dartmouth, Department of Materials and Textiles, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 02747, United States
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Abstract

We have printed arrays of strain sensors on textiles by inkjet printing of conducting lines and piezoresistive polymer (PEDOT) in order to provide detailed information about the response of a fabric in use. Conducting polymer has been printed onto polyamide and cellulose woven fabrics to form sensors using a modified HP inkjet print-head and X-Y linear positioning table. Good penetration and attachment is found on mercerized cotton but not on polyamide. Silver nitrate lines have been printed onto polyamide and converted to silver connectors by electroless plating. We observed that resistance of silver lines ranged from 0.7-1.5Ω/cm whereas for the conducting polymer it was 1-3 kΩ/mm by a four point probe method. The conducting polymer formed a surface coat on the fabric and also penetrated the weave. On stretching, the surface layer tended to crack but the embedded polymer acts as a strain gauge with a gauge factor of about 5. On the other hand the silver showed minimal change in resistance with stretching, as is required for connectors. Sensitivity towards temperature and humidity and the effect of orientation to stress and weave directions will be reported. Preliminary experiments show that these sensors attached to a sleeve could be effective for monitoring human joint motion.

Keywords

piezoresponsebiologicalfilm
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 920: Symposium S – Smart Nanotextiles , 2006 , 0920-S05-04
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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