AN ANALYSIS OF CONDUCTIVE FIBERS AS SMART TEXTILES

Abstract

This study aims to foreground the significance of conductive textiles as smart textiles for the clothing industry. As is known, smart textiles are materials and structures that sense and react to environmental changes. Conductive textiles have managed to become one of the fastest growing branches of smart textiles in that they have taken its place among the most leading products in recent years. As the literature review has shown, the significance of conductive textiles is mostly related to their wide range of usage areas such as medical, space, defense, industrial fields in which they create added value. Some of the studies have shown that electrical conductivity and static electricity are very important during the use and production of textiles. However, this study also wants to underline the probable disadvantages of static electricity for textiles products and/or their users. For this purpose, it has been explained that the generation of static charges or electrostatic behavior on the surface of textiles can lead to such disadvantages as electronical shocks of the consumer during product use or production process, breaking down of sensitive electronic devices, ignition in environments where flammable vapor and dust exists as well as rapid contamination of fabrics. In order to shed light on general features of conductive textiles, information regarding the basic principles of antistatic and conductive textiles, the methods of conductivity and their usage areas have been presented. To collect data, relevant literature has been reviewed by using qualitative research methods. After evaluating the collected data, it has been concluded that the fibers to which conductivity has been imparted are more suitable for the clothing industry. Key words: Smart, Static, Electricity, Conductivity, Fibers

Keywords

• Smart
• Static
• Electricity
• Conductivity
• Fibers