Method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays

• US 7,531,203 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Ho, Hoi-Lut, Yuen, Marcus Chun-Wah, Leung, Sarah Mei-Yi, Kwok, Wing-Yin, Tao, Xiaoming
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Bret
• Application Number:
  US11/029,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 427/255.6, 427/256, 427/282, 427/356, 427/421, 427/428.1, 427/58, 427/446, 427/551, 427/553, 427/353, 427/421.1, 427/428.01
• US Class Current: 427/58
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/12 to obtain a coating with specific electrical properties
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/12 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/24 Vacuum evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/28 Halides of elements of Groups 8, 9, 10 or 18 of the Periodic Table
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/61 Polyamines polyimines
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/16 Processes for the non-uniform application of treating agents, e.g. one-sided treatment; Differential treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/20 Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2418 Coating or impregnation increases electrical conductivity or anti-static quality

Abstract

A method for the production of a conductive flexible textile array. The method includes the application of an oxidizing agent to selected areas of the textile; coating the textile with pyrrole by vapor deposition to form a conductive coated textile having a polypyrrole network; stabilizing the conductive coated textile; and forming the conductive flexible textile arrays as a sensor. With this method of production, the degree of polymerization of the conjugated polymer, the morphology and the rate of the capacitance delay is carefully controlled. As such, stable flexible textile sensors are produced with various levels of sensitivities and conductivities which are particularly useful for designed applications.

Claims

1. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays comprising:

applying an oxidising agent to selected areas of the textile;

coating the textile with pyrrole by vapour deposition to form a conductive polypyrrole coated textile;

stabilising the conductive polypyrrole coated textile by exposing the conductive polypyrrole coated textile to a radiating light source to degrade the polypyrrole; and

forming the conductive flexible textile arrays as a sensor.

2. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxidising agent is applied by a jet spray technique.

3. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxidising agent is applied by screen printing.

4. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxidising agent is applied by inkjet printing.

5. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxidising agent is applied by padding.

6. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pyrrole is applied by exposure of the textile with the oxidising agent still wet to an atmosphere saturated with pyrrole monomer vapor under a vacuum.

7. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 6 wherein said deposition occurs at substantially room temperature and continues for approximately 24 hours.

8. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays comprising

applying an oxidising agent to selected areas of the textile;

coating the textile with pyrrole by vapour deposition to form a conductive polypyrrole coated textile;

stabilising the conductive polypyrrole coated textile by exposing the conductive polypyrrole coated textile to a washing process to age the coating; and

forming the conductive flexible textile arrays as a sensor.

9. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays comprising

applying an oxidising agent to selected areas of the textile;

coating the textile with pyrrole by vapour deposition to form a conductive polypyrrole coated textile;

stabilising the conductive polypyrrole coated textile by exposing the conductive polypyrrole coated textile to application of an electrical current to the polypyrrole coated textile; and

forming the conductive flexible textile arrays as a sensor.

10. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 9 wherein said stabilising includes applying an electrical current to the textile during the vapor deposition of the pyrrole onto the textile to control the morphology of the conductive coated textile.