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    Content by Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson
    We support the Open Source Hardware movement. All our own designs published on this website are released under the Free Cultural Works definition
    The following institutions have funded our research and supported our work:

    Mika was a guest researcher at the Smart Textiles Design Lab, The Swedish School of Textiles

    Hannah is a former graduate student of the MIT Media Lab's High-Low Tech research group


    Hannah and Mika were both research fellows at the Distance Lab
    Conductive Materials

    Conductive Fabric Substitute

    Aluminum foil used with fusible interfacing is a great inexpensive and super available substitute for conductive fabrics.

    !!! CAUTION: Unlike with conductive fabric you can NOT simply overlap two pieces of aluminum foil, fusing one on top of the other to make an electrical connection. The fusible interfacing acts as an isolating barrier. In the case of conductive fabric, the porosity of the fabric allows it to partially absorb the fusible interfacing so that this technique makes for a relatively stable electrical connection.

    >> See the Aluminum Foil Tilt Sensor for example application

    6 Comments so far

    1. Trevor on October 25th, 2010

      I am looking for a thin fabric like material that I can be heated by a low voltage battery. I am really only looking to get it to approx. 100 degrees F. I was told that Gorix sales a similar product? I am not able to reach them via email though. I really need a sample product. The size I need is approx. 1 inch in width by 2 feet in length. It is just a long thin piece. Also I would like to get to it come with wire leads to run into the battery as I not that handy. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.

      Thanks and I look forward to your reply.

      Trevor

    2. Tobias on February 22nd, 2011

      Do you know if this can be used instead of Conductive fabric in the bend sensors you have posted instructions on? I think it should work given you don’t mistreat it too much at the ends… the fabric just seems to be there to give a solid connection to the staple.

    3. admin on February 23rd, 2011

      yes, you can make a bend sensor with alu foil instead of conductive thread or fabric. it really depends on your application and what sort of flexibility you need.

    4. tony on December 14th, 2011

      looking for cheap conductive fabric heat-able to 72 degree F that can be stapled or nailed, become wet all without risk of shorts or passing current at human sensitivity levels, I’m oblivious to what if anything is available in the market

      thanks

      tony

    5. Harry on September 14th, 2012

      Hello.
      I am looking for a substitute for conductive fabric for my iPad as a pen. Please give me a solution as soon as possible.

      Thanks

    6. sharmila on February 15th, 2013

      i need to design a coat for monitoring physiological parameters( like ecg ,temperature…) of a baby. so i need conductive fabric materials which can conduct bio-potentials to electrode..please suggest some fabrics that’ll best suite the baby…..

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