Abstract:

In order to improve the characteristics of metal wire-based conductive traces on fabrics, a modified vortex spinning method was proposed for fabricating conductive traces-oriented core-spun yarns with an ultra-fine metal wire of 50 μm in diameter as the core. The structure and electro-mechanical properties of the core-spun yarns were analyzed. The results show that the proposed vortex spinning apparatus and method are capable of continuously fabricating core-spun yarns containing the ultra-fine metal wire at a speed up to 250 m/min. The fabricated vortex core-spun yarn containing metal wire is composed of the metal wire, the untwisted parallel fibers, and the wrapper fiber from the interior to the exterior of the yarn. The positions of the metal wire in the cross-section of the core-spun yarn are mainly two types, the area between central point and 1/3 radius of the yarn, and the area between 1/3 radius and 2/3 radius of the yarn. The breaking strength of the vortex core-spun yarn containing metal wire is increased by 100%-200% compared to the metal wire. Wrapping characteristics and amount of the short-staple fibers have insignificant effects on the resistance variation-elongation relations of the metal wire core in core-spun yarn, indicating that the vortex core-spun yarn containing metal wire has similar electrical properties to that of the original metal wire.

Key words: wortex spinningsmart, core-spun yarn, metal wire, conductuve yarn, smart textile