The conductive textile grid is a large-scale (226 x 115 cm) multi-layer demonstrator exhibiting different conductive textile materials with certain outputs (such as LEDs, thermo-chromic ink and shape memory alloy) can be connected onto a base conductive fabric. Various conductive materials such as knitted patches, woven patches and 3D woven patches are attached on to the 2D base conductive fabric using different connectors. The objective is to determine the best way to electrically connect the various conductive textile patches, providing smooth transfer of current in each of the conductive patches of the base conductive fabric. The functioning of the outputs proved the transfer of electricity from the base fabric onto the conductive patches activating the outputs. The demonstrator constructed on semi-industrial scale has unique features and each of the components can be implemented integrally to develop different products of Smart textiles.
Paper written by the Smart Functional Materials chair of Saxion for and accepted by the Autex Conference 2013 (22-24 May 2013, Dresden, Germany).