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. 2021 Nov 10;14(22):6780.
doi: 10.3390/ma14226780.

The Influence of Electro-Conductive Compression Knits Wearing Conditions on Heating Characteristics

Md Reazuddin Repon  1 , Ginta Laureckiene  1 , Daiva Mikucioniene  1
Affiliations

The Influence of Electro-Conductive Compression Knits Wearing Conditions on Heating Characteristics

Md Reazuddin Repon et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Textile-based heaters have opened new opportunities for next-generation smart heating devices. This experiment presents electrically conductive textiles for heat generation in orthopaedic compression supports. The main goal was to investigate the influence of frequent washing and stretching on heat generation durability of constructed compression knitted structures. The silver coated polyamide yarns were used to knit a half-Milano rib structure containing elastomeric inlay-yarn. Dimensional stability of the knitted fabric and morphological changes of the silver coated electro-conductive yarns were investigated during every wash cycle. The results revealed that temperature becomes stable within two minutes for all investigated fabrics. The heat generation was found to be dependent on the stretching, mostly due to the changing surface area; and it should be considered during the development of heated compression knits. Washing negatively influences the heat-generating capacity on the fabric due to the surface damage caused by the mechanical and chemical interaction during washing. The higher number of silver-coated filaments in the electro-conductive yarn and the knitted structure, protecting the electro-conductive yarn from mechanical abrasion, may ensure higher durability of heating characteristics.

Keywords: compression; conductive textiles; heat generation; orthopaedic support; stretch; washing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Images and principle scheme of conductive yarn layout on the technical back side of a specimen (formula image—courses with conductive yarn, formula image—courses without conductive yarn, formula image—path of conductive yarn): (a) EFL1 and EFH1; (b) EFL2 and EFH2; (c) EFL3 and EFH3 [29].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Arrangement of fabric for resistance assessment.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Images of conductive fabrics: (a) EFL1 and EFH1; (b) EFL2 and EFH2; (c) EFL3 and EFH3.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Images of conductive fabrics: (a) EFL1 and EFH1; (b) EFL2 and EFH2; (c) EFL3 and EFH3.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Target temperature observation of designed specimens of EFL group (a) and EFH group (b) during the 600 s period by applying different voltages.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Target temperature observation of designed specimens of EFL group (a) and EFH group (b) during the 600 s period by applying different voltages.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Thermal images of EFL1 (a), EFL2 (b), EFL3 (c), EFH1 (d), EFH2 (e), and EFH3 (f) structured electro-conductive fabrics after 10 min of constant voltage application.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Temperature changes of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabrics during the 600 s period at different stretch levels.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Temperature changes of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabrics during the 600 s period at different stretch levels.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Shrinkage in the longitudinal (a) and transverse direction (b) of the developed electro-conductive fabrics upon the number of washing.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Temperature changes of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabric during the 600 s period before washing and after different wash cycles: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Temperature changes of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabric during the 600 s period before washing and after different wash cycles: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Temperature changes of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabric during the 600 s period before washing and after different wash cycles: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th.
Figure 9
Figure 9
SEM images of specimens knitted with electro-conductive yarn: (a) 150× and (b) 500× magnification before wash.
Figure 10
Figure 10
SEM images of electro-conductive yarns in EFL and EFH group fabrics after 1st, 3rd, and 5th washing cycles (500× magnification).
Figure 10
Figure 10
SEM images of electro-conductive yarns in EFL and EFH group fabrics after 1st, 3rd, and 5th washing cycles (500× magnification).
Figure 11
Figure 11
Resistance of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabrics before and after different numbers of washing and drying cycles.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Temperature changes of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabric during the 600 s period before and after different washing cycles (1, 2, 3, 5) at 30% stretch.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Temperature changes of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabric during the 600 s period before and after different washing cycles (1, 2, 3, 5) at 30% stretch.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Temperature changes of EFL1, EFL2, EFL3, EFH1, EFH2, and EFH3 structured electro-conductive fabric during the 600 s period before and after different washing cycles (1, 2, 3, 5) at 30% stretch.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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