Journal of Textile Research ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (06): 31-37.doi: 10.13475/j.fzxb.20241001901

• Column of Youth Scientists′Salon on New Fiber Materials and Green Textile Development • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Preparation and touching characterization of textile-based touch electronics fabric

XU Tong1, XU Ruidong1, WANG Yiwen1, TIAN Mingwei1,2()   

  1. 1. College of Textile and Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
    2. Health & Protective Smart Textiles Research Center, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
  • Received:2024-10-11 Revised:2025-02-28 Online:2025-06-15 Published:2025-07-02
  • Contact: TIAN Mingwei E-mail:mwtian@qdu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

Objective The bionic reconfiguration of touch as a basic human sensory channel has become a key scientific issue in the development of artificial intelligence and robotics. But, most of the current touch sensing devices are composed of composite electrodes with hydrogel as the sensing layer, which has inherent problems such as poor bio-compatibility and low inter-facial fastness. Therefore, this work provide a strategy to address the above issues. Silk fabric with natural bio-compatibility is used as substrate material. Conductive waterborne polyurethane(WPU) which can form inter-molecular interactions with silk fabric is used as upper material, constructing textile-based touch electronics fabric.

Method Textile-based touch electronics fabric has a laminated structure with a conductive waterborne polyurethane upper layer and a silk fabric lower layer. Conductive waterborne polyurethane which is a blend of waterborne polyurethane and multi-walled carbon nanotube has excellent electrical properties and stability. Waterborne polyurethanes are synthesized by the self-emulsification method. Electronics fabric can recognize touch position, because before touching electronics fabric has been construct uniform electric field. When touching electronics fabric, electrical circuit is built and touch current is stimulated. Based on natural skin-friendly and presence of inter-molecular interaction between silk and conductive waterborne polyurethane, electronics fabric has high bio-compatibility and stable inter-facial fastness.

Results Select 11 points on the surface of the electronics fabric at equal intervals and touch them sequentially from left to right. The results displayed that the touch current monitored by the A1 ammeter decreases and touch current with A2 rises insteps, which the sum of current monitored by two ammeters is constant. Choosing the midpoint of the fabric as the test point, the test found that the response time is 73 ms and the recovery time is 100 ms, which proves that the touch electronics fabric has a high response speed. Touching the midpoint of the fabric for 500 times and comparing the change of touch current for 1, 50, 100, 300 and 500 times, the result shows that the change rate of touch current is only 0.118%, which proves that the touch electronic fabric has excellent touch stability. Touch electronics fabric is placed for 60 d and the midpoint is selected as the touch point. Comparing the change of touch current in 0, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 d, the result proves that the change rate of touch current is less than 1.5%, which proves that the touch electronic fabric has excellent touch durability. Different bending angles, including 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°, are applied to touch electronics fabric, and the midpoint of touch electronics fabric is selected as touch point. By monitoring the change of touch current under different angles, the result proves that the maximum fluctuation of touch current is only 5%, which proves that the touch electronic fabric can still work under the bending state. In addition touch electronics fabric is successfully applied to the development of a flexible keyboard. The electronics fabric is divided into three parts, the left, middle, right parts correspond to the left, down and right movement in the control of Tetris. Based on this function, the interface interaction can be realized by dividing the touch electronics fabric into different zones.

Conclusion A textile-based touch electronics fabric with silk fabric as the substrate and waterborne polyurethane/multi-walled carbon nanotubes as the conductive paste is prepared and investigated, which solves the bottlenecks such as poor bio-compatibility and low inter-facial fastness of traditional ionogel-based touch devices. The silk touch electronics fabric has excellent touch sensing characteristics such as high-precision touch positioning function, excellent response time (73 ms), touch stability and touch durability. In addition, the touch electronics fabric also has deformation insensitive characteristics, and the touch current of the textile can still be maintained constant after many times of bending and deformation. On this basis, a fabric control interface is developed to realize touch game control, which has a broad application prospect in the field of intelligent wearable human-computer interaction.

Key words: waterborne polyurethane, self-emulsification method, touch electronics fabric, coupling capacitance, touch sensing, silk fabric

CLC Number: 

  • TM242

Fig.1

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of IPDI (a) and waterborne polyurethane films (b)"

Fig.2

Rheological properties of conductive waterborne polyurethanes mixed slurry with different content of MWCNT"

Fig.3

Microscopic morphology of touch electronics fabrics. (a)Cross-sectional morphology of touch electronic fabric;(b)Silk fabric surface"

Fig.4

Schematic diagram of touch principle of touch electronics fabrics"

Fig.5

Current change law of touch electronic fabricss. (a)Change in current of A1; (b)Change in current of A2"

Fig.6

Response time of touch electronics fabrics"

Fig.7

Touch interactive display of touch electronics fabrics"

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