Open AccessActively actuated all dispenser printed thermochromic smart fabric device
Author(s) -
Ahmed Z.,
Wei Y.,
Torah R.,
Tudor J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
electronics letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.375
H-Index - 146
ISSN - 1350-911X
DOI - 10.1049/el.2016.1073
Subject(s) - thermochromism , materials science , inkwell , flexibility (engineering) , polyester , screen printing , electrical conductor , conductive ink , optoelectronics , electrical engineering , computer science , composite material , engineering , layer (electronics) , sheet resistance , chemistry , statistics , mathematics , organic chemistry
An all printed actively actuated thermochromic (TC) smart fabric device is reported for the first time using a state of the art dispenser printing technique. The device consists of an ultraviolet curable TC ink with an activation temperature of 33°C actuated by conductive track‐based printed heater. The device is printed on untreated polyester cotton fabric. It offers a significant improvement in flexibility and design freedom over the state of the art TC fabric devices. The printed device changes colour from black to green in 10.8 s using 1.46 W DC power. It is shown that the time required for the device to change colour reduces tenfold with only a threefold increase in input power. It can be fabricated on other fabric or flexible substrates and in a range of colours and activation temperatures depending on the formulation chosen. The printed device is 30 × 21.5 mm which can be scaled up or down to suit the application. It can be used as an indicator in combination with sensors for smart fabric applications.