This thesis considers the impact of fabric properties on the electronic textile (e-textile) design process. Specifically, properties such as weave pattern, drape, tinsel wire placement and weight are evaluated as physical aspects of an e-textile system within an expanded design flow and fabric synthesis. A textile's physical properties are important for creating e-textiles that look and feel like normal clothing and thus are truly wearable. A more detailed assessment of the weave of an e-textile and its effect on the electrical resistance of networks of uninsulated conductive fibers is also considered in both single weaves and complex pocket double weaves. / Master of Science

Electronic textiles, or smart textiles, is a field that is growing due to the opportunities it provides. Textile integrated electronics enables soft, flexible, lightweight electronic devices that enable long term monitoring within the medical field. Pressure sensors is one device within this field that has been researched. A textile integrated pressure sensor enables monitoring of heart rate, muscle activity, posture, gait phases and finger movements. In this project a resistive pressure sensor has been produced using embroidery with the purpose of investigating how construction and design parameters influence the resistance-pressure relationship. The study consisted in different phases where in Phase I parameters such as fabric substrate, stitch length and yarn type was examined. Phase II investigated design parameters like electrode pattern design, sensor shape, trace distance and size. In the design phase a new electrode pattern and sensor shape was tested. Finally in Phase III a sensor matix and sensor chain was constructed in order to evaluate the possibility of obtaining touch location. The findings in this study showed that the shape, size and yarn type had the most distinct influence on the sensor performance in regards to the resistance-pressure relationship. In an additional recovery test the results indicated that both textile substrate and stitch length could influence the ability to recover to its original shape after applying cyclic pressure. It was also found that the new pattern design performed equally to the conventional pattern designs and at the same time reduced material consumption as well as the embroidery time. The sensor matrix and sensor chain could display a change in resistance when applying a weight at each sensing element, implying that touch location could be detected, but would need further development in construction before potential implementation.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] La integración de electrónica en los tejidos para obtener nuevas funcionalidades es una de las apuestas de futuro de la industria textil y de la moda. Al estar compuestos parcialmente por tejido, los textiles electrónicos proporcionan a los usuarios un mayor confort, durabilidad y ligereza que otros dispositivos, manteniendo al mismo tiempo las propiedades electrónicas. No obstante, conseguir estas nuevas funcionalidades, a un coste asequible y asegurando la flexibilidad y ligereza propias de los tejidos, sigue siendo un reto para el sector. El área de la electrónica impresa ha permitido el desarrollo de una electrónica flexible combinando métodos de impresión tradicionales con el uso de tintas electrónicas. La técnica de impresión flexográfica destaca entre las demás por ofrecer altas velocidades de fabricación, calidad y alta productividad a bajo coste. En el ámbito textil, sin embargo, su incorporación es todavía muy reciente y no hay suficientes estudios para su aplicación. En este contexto, esta tesis doctoral tiene como objetivo fundamental estudiar la novedosa aplicación de la técnica de la flexografía sobre materiales textiles. Para ello, se ha tomado como base los actuales conocimientos de la autora en el área de la electrónica impresa textil empleando la tecnología serigráfica. Con este fin, durante el desarrollo de la tesis se realiza, en primer lugar, el estudio de los parámetros necesarios para la aplicación de dicha tecnología en diferentes substratos. Del estudio se obtienen diferentes valores adecuados para la impresión mediante flexografía según si el sustrato se trata de un tejido, un no-tejido, un sustrato polimérico o un papel siliconado. En segundo lugar, se definen los protocolos que permiten la integración de tintas con características eléctricas en las telas empleando la tecnología flexográfica. Por un lado, se estudia el impacto de los parámetros estructurales de un tejido de calada en la conductividad de la tinta impresa y, por otro lado, la influencia del material de la trama en la conductividad de elementos conductores-resistivos. Para ello, se realiza una impresión controlada sobre tejidos de calada utilizando la misma tinta conductora de plata y se analizan las propiedades físicas y eléctricas de las muestras resultantes. Se concluye que, cuanto mayor sea la densidad del textil, menor es la conductividad final de la impresión, y que el algodón es el material menos recomendable para la impresión electrónica mediante la técnica de la flexografía. Finalmente, se trabaja en el objetivo de desarrollar un sistema de medición de temperatura continuo mediante impresión electrónica sobre sustratos flexibles y elásticos mediante serigrafía para su traslación a flexografía. Se consigue desarrollar con éxito un sistema robusto, de bajo consumo y confortable para los pacientes que permite la adquisición de los datos de temperatura de forma continua. / [CAT] La integració d'electrònica en els teixits per a obtenir noves funcionalitats és una de les apostes de futur de la indústria tèxtil i de la moda. A l'estar compostos parcialment per teixit, els tèxtils electrònics proporcionen als usuaris un major confort, durabilitat i lleugeresa que altres dispositius, mentre mantenen les mateixes propietats electròniques. No obstant això, aconseguir aquestes noves funcionalitats, a un cost assequible i mantenint la flexibilitat i lleugeresa pròpies dels teixits, continua sent un repte per al sector. L'àrea de l'electrònica impresa ha permès el desenvolupament d'una electrònica flexible combinant mètodes d'impressió tradicionals amb l'ús de tintes electròniques. La tècnica d'impressió flexogràfica destaca entre les altres per oferir altes velocitats de fabricació, qualitat i alta productivitat a baix cost. En l'àmbit tèxtil, no obstant això, la seua incorporació és encara molt recent i no hi ha suficients estudis per a la seua aplicació. En este context, esta tesi doctoral té com a objectiu fonamental estudiar la nova aplicació de la tècnica de la flexografia sobre materials tèxtils. Per a això, s'ha pres com a base els actuals coneixements de l'autora en l'àrea de l'electrònica impresa tèxtil emprant la tecnologia serigràfica. Amb este fi, durant el desenrotllament de la tesi es realitza, en primer lloc, l'estudi dels paràmetres necessaris per a l'aplicació de la dita tecnologia en diferents substrats. De l'estudi s'obtenen diferents valors adequats per a la impressió per mitjà de flexografia segons si el substrat es tracta d'un teixit, un no-teixit, un substrat polimèric o un paper siliconat. En segon lloc, es defineixen els protocols que permeten la integració de tintes amb característiques elèctriques en les te les emprant la tecnologia flexogràfica. D'una banda, s'estudia l'impacte dels paràmetres estructurals d'un teixit de calada en la conductivitat de la tinta impresa i, d'altra banda, la influència del material de la trama en la conductivitat d'elements conductors-resistius. Per a això, es realitza una impressió controlada sobre teixits de calada utilitzant la mateixa tinta conductora de plata i s'analitzen les propietats físiques i elèctriques de les mostres resultants. Es conclou que, quant major siga la densitat del tèxtil, menor és la conductivitat final de la impressió, i que el cotó és el material menys recomanable per a la impressió electrònica per mitjà de la tècnica de la flexografia. Finalment, es treballa en l'objectiu de desenrotllar un sistema de mesurament de temperatura continu per mitjà d'impressió electrònica sobre substrats flexibles i elàstics per mitjà de serigrafia per a la seua translació a flexografia. S'aconsegueix desenrotllar amb èxit un sistema robust, de baix consum i confortable per als pacients que permet l'adquisició de les dades de temperatura de forma contínua. / [EN] Electronics' integration into textiles to obtain new functionalities is one of the bets for the future of the textile and fashion industry. Electronic textiles provide users greater comfort, durability, and lightness than other devices as they are partially made of fabric, while maintaining the same electronic properties. However, achieving these new functionalities, maintaining the flexibility and flexibility typical of the fabrics with at affordable cost, continues to be a challenge for the sector. The area of printed electronics has allowed the development of flexible electronics by combining traditional printing methods with the use of electronic inks. The flexographic printing technique stands out among the others for offering high manufacturing speeds, quality, and high productivity at low cost. In the textile field, however, its incorporation is still very recent and there are not enough studies for its application. In this context, this doctoral thesis fundamental objective is to study the novel application of the flexography technique on textile materials. For this, the current knowledge of the author about printed textile electronics using serigraphic technology has been taken as a basis. To this end, for the development of the thesis, in the first place the study of the necessary parameters for the application of this technology in different substrates has been carried out. Different suitable values for flexographic printing have been obtained from the study regarding whether the substrate is a fabric, a non-woven, a polymeric substrate or a silicone-coated paper. Secondly, the protocols that allow the integration of electrical inks with fabrics using flexographic technology have been defined. On the one hand, the impact of the structural parameters of a woven fabric on the conductivity of the printed ink has been studied. On the other hand, also the influence of the weft material on the conductivity of conductive-resistive elements was also studied. To do this, a controlled impression has been made on woven fabrics using the same conductive silver ink. Then both physical and electrical properties of the resulting samples have been analysed. It has been concluded that the higher the density of the textile, the lower final conductivity of the print is. Also, it has been defined that cotton is the least recommended material for electronic printing when using the flexography technique. Finally, towards the objective of developing a continuous temperature measurement system by electronic printing on flexible and elastic substrates, work has been carried out using screen printing for its translation into flexography. It has been possible to successfully develop a robust, low-consumption and comfortable system for patients that allows the continuous acquisition of temperature data. / Rodes Carbonell, AM. (2022). Dispositivos electrónicos impresos sobre sustratos textiles mediante la técnica de flexografía [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/189164 / Compendio

<p>Micro- and nanoparticles (MNP) attract much attention owing to their unique properties, structural tunability, and wide range of practical applications. To deposit these important materials on surfaces for generating functional coatings, a variety of special delivery systems and coating/printing techniques have been explored. Herein, spray coating technique is a promising candidate to advance the field of nanotechnology due to its low-cost, high-deposition rate, manufacturing flexibility, and compatibility with roll-to-roll processing. Despite great advances, direct scalable spray writing of functional materials at high-spatial resolution through fine patterning without a need of vacuum and mask equipment still remains challenging. Addressing these limitations requires the development of efficient spray deposition techniques and novel manufacturing approaches to effectively fabricate functional coatings. To this end, this dissertation employs three different spray coating methods of (1) cold spray; (2) atomization-assisted supersonic spray, and (3) dual velocity regime spray to address the aforementioned limitations. A comprehensive set of coating materials, design principles, and operational settings for each spray system are tailored for rapid, direct, and sustainable deposition of MNP on various substrates. Besides, through the two-phase flow modeling, droplets dispersion and deposition characteristics were investigated under both subsonic and supersonic flow conditions to uncover the process-structure-property relationships of the established spray systems. Moreover, novel spray-based manufacturing approaches are developed to fabricate functional coatings in various applications, including (i) functional polymer metallization, (ii) printed flexible electronics, (iii) advanced thin-film nanocoating, (iv) laser direct writing, and (v) electronic textiles.</p>