Ultralong Carbon Nanotube Yarns Integrated as Electronic Functional Elements in Smart Textiles
Smart textiles are an evolving field, but challenges in durability, washing, interfacing, and sustainability persist. Widespread adoption requires robust, lightweight, fully integrated fiber-based conductors. This paper proposes using ultralong carbon nanotube (UCNT) yarns with a width-to-length rat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Textiles |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7248/5/2/13 |
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| author | Ayelet Karmon Ori Topaz Raman Tandon Andy Weck Ortal Tiurin Sheizaf Rafaeli Zeev Weissman |
| author_facet | Ayelet Karmon Ori Topaz Raman Tandon Andy Weck Ortal Tiurin Sheizaf Rafaeli Zeev Weissman |
| author_sort | Ayelet Karmon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Smart textiles are an evolving field, but challenges in durability, washing, interfacing, and sustainability persist. Widespread adoption requires robust, lightweight, fully integrated fiber-based conductors. This paper proposes using ultralong carbon nanotube (UCNT) yarns with a width-to-length ratio of several orders of magnitude larger than typical carbon nanotube fibers. These yarns enable the manufacturing of stable, workable structures, composed of a network of twisted fibers (tows), which are suitable for fabric integration. Our research includes the creation of textile prototype demonstrators integrated with coated and non-coated UCNT yarns, tested under military-grade standards for both mechanical durability and electric functionality. The demonstrators were evaluated for their electrical and mechanical properties under washability, abrasion, and weathering. Notably, polymer-coated UCNT yarns demonstrated improved mechanical durability and electrical performance, showing promising results. However, washing tests revealed the presence of UCNT nanofibers in the residue, raising concerns due to their classification as hazards by the World Health Organization. This paper examines the sources of fiber release and discusses necessary improvements to coating formulations and testing protocols to mitigate fiber loss and enhance their practical viability. These findings underscore both the potential and limitations of UCNT yarns in military textile applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-378ace11d1bf4daabc50ef1d18920110 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-7248 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Textiles |
| spelling | doaj-art-378ace11d1bf4daabc50ef1d189201102025-08-20T03:29:47ZengMDPI AGTextiles2673-72482025-04-01521310.3390/textiles5020013Ultralong Carbon Nanotube Yarns Integrated as Electronic Functional Elements in Smart TextilesAyelet Karmon0Ori Topaz1Raman Tandon2Andy Weck3Ortal Tiurin4Sheizaf Rafaeli5Zeev Weissman6Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, IsraelCenter of Innovation and Research in Textile, Shenkar (CIRTex), Ramat Gan 52526, IsraelDepartment Soldier Systems, Research Institute for Materials Fuels and Lubricants (WIWeB), 85435 Erding, GermanyDepartment Soldier Systems, Research Institute for Materials Fuels and Lubricants (WIWeB), 85435 Erding, GermanyHydrolite, Caesaria 38900, IsraelShenkar, Ramat Gan 52526, IsraelElectrical Engineering Department, Shenkar, Ramat Gan 52526, IsraelSmart textiles are an evolving field, but challenges in durability, washing, interfacing, and sustainability persist. Widespread adoption requires robust, lightweight, fully integrated fiber-based conductors. This paper proposes using ultralong carbon nanotube (UCNT) yarns with a width-to-length ratio of several orders of magnitude larger than typical carbon nanotube fibers. These yarns enable the manufacturing of stable, workable structures, composed of a network of twisted fibers (tows), which are suitable for fabric integration. Our research includes the creation of textile prototype demonstrators integrated with coated and non-coated UCNT yarns, tested under military-grade standards for both mechanical durability and electric functionality. The demonstrators were evaluated for their electrical and mechanical properties under washability, abrasion, and weathering. Notably, polymer-coated UCNT yarns demonstrated improved mechanical durability and electrical performance, showing promising results. However, washing tests revealed the presence of UCNT nanofibers in the residue, raising concerns due to their classification as hazards by the World Health Organization. This paper examines the sources of fiber release and discusses necessary improvements to coating formulations and testing protocols to mitigate fiber loss and enhance their practical viability. These findings underscore both the potential and limitations of UCNT yarns in military textile applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7248/5/2/13smart textilese-textilesweavingnanofiberscarbon nanotubes |
| spellingShingle | Ayelet Karmon Ori Topaz Raman Tandon Andy Weck Ortal Tiurin Sheizaf Rafaeli Zeev Weissman Ultralong Carbon Nanotube Yarns Integrated as Electronic Functional Elements in Smart Textiles Textiles smart textiles e-textiles weaving nanofibers carbon nanotubes |
| title | Ultralong Carbon Nanotube Yarns Integrated as Electronic Functional Elements in Smart Textiles |
| title_full | Ultralong Carbon Nanotube Yarns Integrated as Electronic Functional Elements in Smart Textiles |
| title_fullStr | Ultralong Carbon Nanotube Yarns Integrated as Electronic Functional Elements in Smart Textiles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultralong Carbon Nanotube Yarns Integrated as Electronic Functional Elements in Smart Textiles |
| title_short | Ultralong Carbon Nanotube Yarns Integrated as Electronic Functional Elements in Smart Textiles |
| title_sort | ultralong carbon nanotube yarns integrated as electronic functional elements in smart textiles |
| topic | smart textiles e-textiles weaving nanofibers carbon nanotubes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7248/5/2/13 |
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