The main objective of the project was to develop smart, functional seams - sensors and/or actuators- for application in sports (strain-sensitive seams), in underwear (moisture-sensitive seams), and in personal protective clothing (luminous seams). The methodology includes defining input material, yarn structure, seam design and specifications, and finally defining the specifications of demonstrators (WP1). In addition, there was the design and development of conductive hybrid yarns by hollow spindle and ring spinning technologies and selection of commercially available conductive (hybrid) yarns for use in seams under (WP2), development of sets of different types of smartseams using the developed conductive (hybrid) yarns by sewing technology under (WP3), creation of the functional garment demonstrators (WP4), as well as characterisation and evaluation of yarns, seams and final demonstrators under (WP5). Following results were obtained: - knowledge on the production of electrically conductive hybrid yarns for sewing and embroidery and guidelines for the industry on spinning conductive hybrid yarns. Specifically, 10 different types of conductive hybrid yarns were developed using hollow spindle spinning technology and subsequently characterised. - Knowledge of test methods to characterise the conductive hybrid yarns - Knowledge of design and development of strain-sensitive seams, light-emitting seams and moisture-sensitive seams - Knowledge of test methods to characterise sensory seams (i.e. sewability, reproducibility, functionality and stability) and comfort of garments with built-in functionalities - Knowledge on coating conductive yarns to maintain functionality - Identification of strengths and weaknesses related to the design and development of conductive hybrid yarns, sensing seams and smart garment products. Finally, 3 demonstrators were developed, produced and characterised: a vest with active light-emitting seams, a sports shirt with capacitive or resistive sensor seams to measure upper body movement, and an undergarment to measure humidity and body temperature.
SmartSeam is een onderzoeksproject van FTILab+.
Alexandra De Raeve
Hochschule Niederrhein
Sheilla Odhiambo, Ingeborg Rottiers, Simona Vasile, Jonas Van Rie, Joris Cools
01/10/2020 - 31/12/2022
VLAIO (voormalig IWT)
Cornet
Creamoda
Forschungskuratorium Textil e. V.
Hochschule Niederrhein