Nutrition Facts

How much do we actually know about the conductive fibers, fabrics and threads that we use?

There are videos, guides and tutorials (see bellow) that explain what different materials are available and how to use them for e-textile circuits and sensors, but these don’t show us how these materials are made. what is involved in these processes?

And then there is information available to us on the Internet, but how do we start to understand these numbers?

Global Fashion Agenda

Their mission is to mobilize the international fashion industry to trans-
form the way we produce and consume fashion:
http://globalfashionagenda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Pulse-of-the-Fashion-Industry_2017.pdf

Behind the Barcode

The Ethical Fashion Report and the Electronics Industry Trends Report seek to help Australians shop ethically, and, by doing so, advocate with their wallets.
https://baptistworldaid.org.au/faith-in-action/behind-the-barcode/

We are putting together a comprehensive list of the materials we stock. We then plan to collect information about these materials that will let us make more informed decisions when deciding which material to select.

The materials we stock:

>> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IZReaK6IJRkQNi2lRCOb69-yU1ZlI-Devvy_o82Z-Zg/edit?usp=sharing


What are some of the details we want to know about these materials?

MATERIAL CONTENTS

Contains what conductive materials
Contains what non-conductive materials
Contains what dangerous substances
Contains allergens
Contains contaminants

PRODUCTION METHODS

Name and describe production methods
Standards and certificates adhered to
Location of production (country, address)

MATERIAL PROPERTIES

here

Electrical properties: conductivity, resistivity, dynamic response
Material properties: fabric size, durability, stretchiness
Appearance/handling (and how this changes with wear and tear)

DURABILITY

Washability
Chemical properties: pH, resistance to acids and
Thermal properties: operating temperatures, insulation

PRICE

Cost to produce
Price breakdown (raw materials, production, shipping, distribution…)
Price compare manufacturer – distributor

COMMON APPLICATIONS

electromagnetic
electroactive functions
Piezo-resistive sensors for measuring and mapping pressure, bend and stretch
EMI absorbers for protecting electronics and lowering radar cross section
Capacitive fabrics for touchscreen compatible apparel
Resistive fabrics for heating
Water filtering
Antiseptic/wound dressing
Anti-static

If you can think of other items that would be good to collect, please comment in the post bellow or email us: koba@kobakant.at


Information Packages

Based of the information we collect through the Nutrition Facts, we would like to compile information that can help makers make more informed decisions about when to use what materials for what purpose. But also what impact some of these materials and their production processes have on the environment.

Manufacturing

cotton, polyester, nylon, polyester, silk

Washing

Washing has a damaging effect on all fabrics, conductive or not.
Most conductive materials are not recommended to wash.
If you wash: hand wash, hang to dry, no ringing, no dryer, use mild detergent (texcare), distilled water, avoid: sulfur, chloride, high temperature
Silver particularly sensitive to washing
If washed in water with high mineral content (particularly sulfur) can degrade fabric in a single wash.

X

Nickel and steel more corrosion resistant
Silver and copper better for skin contact
Conductivity measured in resistance (square resistance measurement)
EMF shielding measured in decibel


Our Most Frequented Manufacturers

Bart and Francis
>> https://www.bart-francis.be/index.php?action=home&lang=EN

Imbut

http://www.imbut.de/

Statex

http://www.statex.de/en/

Eeonyx

>> http://eeonyx.com/

YSHILED EMR Shielding

>> https://www.yshield.com/

Bekaert

>> https://www.bekaert.com


Our Most Frequented Suppliers/Distributors

LessEMF

http://lessemf.com/

Sparkfun

http://sparkfun.com/

Adafruit

https://www.adafruit.com/

Exp-Tech

https://www.exp-tech.de

Hitek

https://www.hitek-ltd.co.uk/

Material info sheets from Designing for the loop workshop




Download complete PDF >> eTextiles_material_info.pdf


References

Repair Cafes

Home

Shadows Obsolescense by Amor Munoz:
http://amormunoz.net/2017/02/06/shadows-obsolescense/
The shadows of obsolescence is a series of 7 large felt pieces cut laser, with form of technological devices that begin to disappear or become obsolete.

Wikipedia articles:
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conductive_textile
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-textiles

>> http://www.cfibermfg.com/

Adafruit intro to conductive materials
>> https://youtu.be/m9O-T8oy7TU

LessEMF video explaining the conductive fabrics they distribute
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPqo0PgrDms

And how to take care of them:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMmzP30NjBI

Sparkfun demos Eeonxy fabrics:
>> https://www.youtube.com/embed/2-YMxyYiYm8