Vladan Koncar

The purpose of this project is to record the mechanical stress spreading along the warp and weft yarns during the weaving process of 3D warp interlock fabric. Fibrous sensors previously developed in our laboratory have been used to measure mechanical strain directly on fabrics. [1][2]. The objective of our research work is to develop new sensor yarns compatible with the weaving process, sufficiently resistant and able to locally detect the mechanical stress all along the damaged yarn. This local detection is realized during the real time 3D weaving loom process. Suited electronic device are designed in order to record in situ measurements delivered by this new sensor yarn.

This paper describes the development and the implementation of a new textile strain sensor. Due to lack of knowledge on the constraints applied on E-glass fibres yarns during the weaving process; this new fibrous sensor has been designed to provide in-situ measurements while the loom is operating. For this purpose E-glass fibres roving were locally coated with piezo-resistive solution of PEDOT:PSS:NMP mixed with PVA. This conductive polymer composite (CPC) has been characterized in strain/stress tests as thin film and coating on yarns. Several refinements on shape, structure and formulation were conducted to achieve higher performance and regularity. The resulting sensors of this development have been settled in an industrial weaving loom for advanced 3D warp interlock production.

ABSTRACT In this chapter different smart textile structures suitable for use in car interiors are presented. One of the main interests of smart textile integration in car interiors is also related to the ‘customization’ trend. Designing very low weight car seats with heating fabric and achieving space saving and comfort thanks to a more breathable structure are now possible. However, only few applications can be found today involving smart textile structures comprising sensors, actuators, and computing and storage devices integrated into internal car elements. On the other side, car interiors contain a range of textile surfaces that may host textile-based sensors and actuators adapted to this specific space. They may be classified in function of the measured parameters and effects they are able to generate. This classification is given below: • Sensors: temperature, humidity, strain, UV radiation, acceleration, light intensity, etc. • Actuators: heating, cooling, different kinds of alert signals, flexible screens and displays, security systems, etc. Flexible devices integrated into textile structures of a car interior could also be used as physiological sensors for various vital parameters. Heating textiles can be developed to be suitable for flexible structures as car seats, steering wheel, etc. The potential use of shape memory alloys in car seats, so that they always have the same ‘new’ look, is also very interesting. Their price is currently the main problem. Nevertheless, they may be used in small quantities and mixed with traditional textile threads to achieve costs attractive for luxury cars

The aim of this work is to develop a smart flexib le sensor adapted to textile structures, able to measure their strain deformatio ns. The sensors are "smart" because of their capacity to adapt to the specific mechanical properties of textile structures that are lightweight, highly flexible, stretchable, elastic, etc. Because of these properties, textile structures are continuously in movement