Journal of Textile Research ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (12): 123-132.doi: 10.13475/j.fzxb.20250601001

• Textile Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Design of knitted temperature sensors and their sensing performance under wearing conditions

ZHANG Ying1, GUO Mingjing1, WANG Lijun1,2,3()   

  1. 1. School of Fashion Design & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
    2. Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory of Digital Clothing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou,Zhejiang 310018, China
    3. Key Laboratory of Digital Technology of Silk Cultural Inheritance and Product Design,Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
  • Received:2025-06-05 Revised:2025-09-30 Online:2025-12-15 Published:2026-02-06
  • Contact: WANG Lijun E-mail:wanglijunhz@zstu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

Objective The changes in human skin temperature can indirectly reflect the functional status of the circulatory system, nervous system, or local tissues. At present, sensors that can monitor human temperature signals are mainly divided into non-fabric type and fabric type. Non-fabric temperature sensors have problems such as poor comfort and fit, limited wearability, insufficient environmental adaptability, and high cost. Therefore, fabric based temperature sensors have become a hot research topic. This study aims to optimize the design of knitted flexible temperature sensors for monitoring human skin temperature during wearing. Additionally, the influence of wearing factors (e.g., body surface curvature, wearing pressure, and outer clothing layers) on the linearity and sensitivity of the sensors is investigated to enhance the understanding for their design and applications.

Method By using silver-plated polyamide yarn and jacquard plating technology, an orthogonal experimental design is employed to analyze the relationships between yarn linear density, fabric structure, plating rows/columns, and the sensing performance of knitted temperature sensors. Silver-plated polyamide yarn (with linear densities of 77.78, 111.11, and 155.56 dtex) and jacquard plating technology are used to fabricate 16 knitted sensor samples with 1+1, 1+2 and 2+2 rib structures, varying plating rows (6,12, 18, 24) and columns (24, 36, 48, 60). A orthogonal experiment is conducted to test static resistance, linearity, sensitivity and stability. Wearing simulations involve measuring sensors on curved surfaces (scapula convex and lumbar concave areas), applying pressures (1.175 1-3.1 751 kPa), and adding 1-3 outer clothing layers.

Results The static resistance is within 26.872 Ω, negatively correlating with fabric grammage and plating rows, but positively with thickness. Linearity improves with increased thickness (quadratic fit, R2=0.611) and plating rows (logarithmic fit, R2=0.412). Sensitivity is positively related to yarn linear density and plating rows, described by a multiple linear regression (R2=0.617). The optimal parameters are 155.56 dtex yarn, 1+2 rib structure, 24 plating rows/columns, with static resistance of 2.813 Ω, linearity of 99.57%, sensitivity of 0.014 4 ℃-1, and stability of 1.79%. Wearing experiments show that linearity and sensitivity decrease at the sunken lumbar region due to contact gaps, while increasing at the convex scapular region due to close contact. Increasing wearing pressure and outer fabric layers can improve sensor linearity and sensitivity.

Conclusion This study establishes quantitative relationships between process parameters and sensing performance, providing optimal design guidelines for knitted temperature sensors. Findings highlight multi-factor (synergy of yarn, structure, plating) significantly affects sensor performance, surpassing single-factor analyses in prior studies. Innovative consideration of wearing dynamics reveals body curvature, pressure, outer clothing layers are critical for practical use. These results enable development of wearable sensors with enhanced adaptability to human physiology and clothing environments, offering foundation for intelligent health-monitoring textiles. Future work is expected to explore dynamic motion effects and long-term durability under repeated wearing.

Key words: knitted structure, temperature sensor, temperature signal monitoring, silver-plated polyamide yarn, sensing performance, dressing factor, flexible sensor, smart clothing

CLC Number: 

  • TS181

Tab.1

Specifications of silver-plated polyamide yarn"

纱线线密
度/dtex		 复丝
根数		 捻度/
(捻·(10 cm)-1)		 原料及含量
77.78 24 17.44 银17%、锦纶83%
111.11 36 17.33 银17%、锦纶83%
155.56 48 17.27 银17%、锦纶83%

Fig.1

Structure of jacquard plating and its resistance hexagonal model"

Tab.2

Orthogonal experimental scheme"

试样
编号		 A
纱线线
密度/dtex		 B
组织结构		 C
添纱行		 D
添纱列
1# 77.78 1+1假罗纹 6 24
2# 155.56 2+1假罗纹 6 48
3# 77.78 1+1假罗纹 6 60
4# 111.11 1+2假罗纹 6 36
5# 111.11 1+1假罗纹 18 24
6# 77.78 2+1假罗纹 12 24
7# 155.56 1+2假罗纹 24 24
8# 77.78 1+1假罗纹 24 48
9# 77.78 1+1假罗纹 24 36
10# 77.78 2+1假罗纹 18 36
11# 111.11 2+1假罗纹 24 60
12# 111.11 1+1假罗纹 12 48
13# 155.56 1+1假罗纹 18 60
14# 155.56 1+1假罗纹 12 36
15# 77.78 1+2假罗纹 18 48
16# 77.78 1+2假罗纹 12 60

Fig.2

Virtual simulation diagram of jacquard inlay structure sensing fabric. (a) Front side;(b) Back side"

Tab.3

Main yarn and yarn feeder configuration"

纱嘴编号 连接纱线种类 作用
1 弹性纱线 辅助编织的临时纱线,织出起底部分(为废纱)
3 镀银锦纶纱线 织造传感区域(为添纱)
5 涤纶/棉混纺纱 织造非传感区域(为主纱)
7 锦纶纱线 作为主纱与废纱的连接纱

Fig.3

Physical diagrams of fabrics with different structures.(a)1+1 false rib stitch;(b)1+2 false rib stitch;(c)2+1 false rib stitch"

Fig.4

Selection of parts with different curvatures"

Tab.4

Combination parameters of applied pressure and outer layer structure"

组合
编号		 组合条件 质量/g 压力/
kPa		 组合
层数		 厚度/
mm
0 基础对照组 8.755 0.175 1 0 0
1 橡皮+50 g砝码 58.755 1.175 1 1 0.30
2 橡皮+100 g砝码 108.755 2.175 1 2 0.56
3 橡皮+150 g砝码 158.755 3.175 1 3 0.86

Fig.5

Sensing performance test diagram"

Fig.6

Sensing performance testing(a) and characterization(b) curves"

Fig.7

Resistance-temperature curves of 16 kinds of sensing samples"

Tab.5

Correlative analysis between structural parameters and sensing performance of fabrics"

因素 静态电阻 线性度 灵敏度
相关
系数		 显著
性		 相关
系数		 显著
性		 相关
系数		 显著
性
面密度 -0.533* 0.034 0.185 0.494 0.753** 0.001
厚度 -0.629** 0.009 0.684** 0.003 0.426 0.100
横密 -0.261 0.329 0.464 0.070 -0.017 0.950
纵密 0.601* 0.014 -0.605* 0.013 -0.463 0.071
线圈长度 -0.257 0.337 -0.013 0.961 0.180 0.506
纱线线密度 -0.348 0.186 0.171 0.528 0.569* 0.021
组织结构 0.001 0.991 0.022 0.868 0.041 0.761
添纱行数 -0.702** 0.002 0.656** 0.006 0.584* 0.018
添纱列数 0.371 0.157 -0.229 0.393 -0.440 0.088

Tab.6

Fitting results of model for each significant factor-sensing performance"

因变量 自变量 模型 调整后R2 F P值 常数 b1 b2 b3
静态电阻 添纱行数/面密度 线性函数 0.593 11.908 0.000 102.174 -3.162 -0.382 —
厚度 二次函数 0.611 10.193 0.002 -5.339 11.583 -5.301 —
S函数 0.481 12.975 0.003 0.234 -0.271 — —
线性度 线密度 二次函数 0.310 4.372 0.035 1.025 -0.059 0.016 —
三次函数 0.310 4.372 0.035 0.993 已排除 -0.016 0.005
添纱行数 次方函数 0.413 11.532 0.004 0.970 0.014 — —
对数函数 0.412 11.501 0.004 0.970 0.014 — —
灵敏度 添纱行数/线密度 线性函数 0.617 13.088 0.000 0.007 0.001 0.001 -

Tab.7

Test results of fabric structural parameters and sensing performance"

传感织物
编号		 结构参数 传感性能
面密度/
(g·m-2)		 厚度/
mm		 横密/
(纵行·(5 cm)-1)		 纵密/
(横列·(5 cm)-1)		 线圈长
度/mm		 静态电
阻Rs/Ω		 线性度
L/%		 灵敏度
α/℃-1
1# 215.84 1.03 52 93 4.24 12.588 97.62 0.008 6
2# 226.71 1.05 52 93 4.27 14.533 97.30 0.009 3
3# 215.05 1.03 52 93 4.26 26.872 96.81 0.008 1
4# 224.27 1.02 50 93 4.30 10.794 96.18 0.010 3
5# 228.57 1.08 52 91 4.26 3.150 97.73 0.012 8
6# 215.87 1.05 56 92 4.25 8.395 98.23 0.010 7
7# 234.92 1.09 52 90 4.31 2.813 99.57 0.014 4
8# 217.46 1.10 54 90 4.30 7.081 98.88 0.010 2
9# 219.78 1.11 54 90 4.25 5.732 99.41 0.011 9
10# 215.87 1.11 56 91 4.26 7.878 98.52 0.009 7
11# 225.40 1.12 54 90 4.34 4.862 97.50 0.010 8
12# 228.57 1.04 52 93 4.26 7.994 96.61 0.011 0
13# 228.83 1.11 58 91 4.28 4.736 99.36 0.011 5
14# 230.16 1.06 52 93 4.26 5.072 99.49 0.012 7
15# 220.88 1.09 53 91 4.29 7.757 99.01 0.010 3
16# 220.63 1.05 54 92 4.29 13.213 97.09 0.008 8
静态电阻Rs k1 11.189 5 9.153 1 16.196 8 6.736 5
k2 6.702 0 8.644 3 8.668 5 7.369 0
k3 6.788 5 8.917 0 5.880 3 9.341 3
k4 — — 5.122 0 12.420 8
R 4.489 5 0.508 9 11.074 8 5.684 3
线性度L k1 0.982 0 0.982 4 0.969 8 0.982 9
k2 0.970 0 0.979 6 0.978 6 0.984 0
k3 0.989 3 0.978 9 0.986 5 0.979 5
k4 — — 0.988 4 0.976 9
R 0.019 3 0.003 5 0.018 6 0.007 1
灵敏度α k1 0.009 8 0.010 8 0.009 1 0.011 6
k2 0.011 2 0.011 0 0.010 8 0.011 2
k3 0.011 9 0.010 1 0.011 1 0.010 2
k4 — — 0.011 8 0.009 8
R 0.002 2 0.000 8 0.002 7 0.001 8

Fig.8

Schematic diagram of distribution of floating long yarns on reverse side of sample.(a)Uneven distribution;(b)Even distribution"

Tab.8

Changes in linearity and sensitivity of each sample under different wearing factors"

着装
因素		 试样
编号		 传感
指标		 组合编号
0 1 2 3
人体
体表
曲度		 7# 线性度 0.995 7 0.993 9 0.996 7 0.995 9
灵敏度 0.014 4 0.013 7 0.014 9 0.014 5
10# 线性度 0.985 2 0.983 6 0.986 0 0.983 2
灵敏度 0.009 7 0.009 5 0.010 0 0.009 6
12# 线性度 0.966 1 0.964 7 0.966 9 0.963 7
灵敏度 0.011 0 0.010 9 0.011 2 0.010 8
压力 7# 线性度 0.995 6 0.996 1 0.996 5 0.996 6
灵敏度 0.015 0 0.015 2 0.015 4 0.015 5
10# 线性度 0.985 3 0.985 8 0.986 6 0.986 9
灵敏度 0.010 0 0.010 4 0.010 9 0.011 1
12# 线性度 0.966 1 0.966 5 0.966 6 0.966 8
灵敏度 0.011 1 0.011 4 0.011 7 0.011 8
外层
织物
层数		 7# 线性度 0.995 7 0.995 8 0.996 1 0.996 2
灵敏度 0.014 4 0.014 6 0.014 8 0.015 0
10# 线性度 0.985 0 0.985 5 0.986 0 0.986 4
灵敏度 0.009 8 0.010 0 0.010 4 0.010 6
12# 线性度 0.966 1 0.966 4 0.966 6 0.966 7
灵敏度 0.011 0 0.011 2 0.011 5 0.011 7
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