Textro-Polymers®

Description

Conductive polymer matrix with predictable dynamic conductivity change with stretch.

Features

Nearly zero hysteresis provides predictable resistance change during elongation
Senses small to very large elongations
Very wide resistance-range performance

Applications

Sports and patient monitoring
Security systems
Sensors
Switches
Pull controls

The ability to change a conductive pathway’s resistance is a basic functionality in electronic circuits and is typically associated with volume controls, switches, and sensors.

Our Textro-polymers®

Our Textro-polymers, which can take the form of a fiber, a film, or a coating, provide a predictable dynamic conductivity change with stretch. In some of the embodiment or formulations developed, these composite materials undergo a change in resistance of over nine orders of magnitude. By adjusting the properties of the composite, we can alter the magnitude of the resistance change as well as the profile of the elongation response.

Typical Electrical Properties

The typical electrical properties achieved with this technology platform include the following:

Low resistivity in the relaxed state (< 10K Ohms)
High resistivity in the stretched state (> 1012 Ohms)
The ability to tailor the resistivity profile

Applications

Textro-polymer® is appropriate for switches and controls that are activated by mechanical movements like bending, stretching, and tugging. For example:

Textile-based motion-activated switches and controls
Strain gauges
Motion sensors or motion detectors
Sports fitness motion sensing garments for training
Physical therapy or rehabilitation devices
Alternative device-activation mechanisms
Occupancy detection for car seats or beds