Adhesives specialist supports textiles project at Nottingham Trent University

Adhesives specialist Intertronics has supported the Advanced Textiles Research Group (ATRG) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) to develop electronic textiles that add functionality to materials and garments.

After Intertronics recommended dispensing Dymax Multi-Cure 9001-E-V3.5 encapsulating resin with the preeflow eco-PEN volumetric pump, and curing with a Dymax BlueWave QX4 UV lamp, the team at NTU were able to develop a microchip-containing pod which measures 1 mm in diameter and is woven or knitted into textiles.

Recent advances in semiconductor and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have reduced both their size and cost. The ATRG is incorporating these components into the yarn-making stage to broaden the possibilities for electronic textiles into areas like temperature sensing, medical monitoring, motion sensing, energy harvesting and illumination. By incorporating the components into the yarn fibre, the fabric retains the textile properties, such as tensile recovery, drapability and breathability. The market is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, with the size of components diminishing leading to a broadened number of applications.

During the yarn-making process, the group encases microchips with a polymer micro-pod to protect them from mechanical and chemical stresses. The team approached Intertronics for assistance with automating the micro-pod process.

Matt Baseley, senior internal technical sales specialist at Intertronics, said: “We visited the Advanced Textiles Research Group to discuss the challenges the researchers were facing, and to fully understand the process they wanted to achieve. Following our discussions, we suggested a few Dymax electronics-grade UV-curing encapsulants that were flexible and transparent. They trialled some samples and found that Dymax Multi-Cure 9001-E-V3.5 met their needs.

“Next, we discussed volumetric dispensing as an alternative to time/pressure dispensing, to remove variations from their process. By dispensing volumetrically with the preeflow eco-PEN, they can have confidence that a consistent amount of encapsulant is dispensed every time. Once they had chosen the material and equipment, we helped them to fine-tune the micro-pod process to overcome any remaining challenges they were facing.”

Theodore Hughes-Riley, senior research fellow in electronic textiles at Nottingham Trent University, added: “Intertronics were able to give us off-the-shelf solutions, fine-tuned to our needs. This was particularly useful in helping us to set up a completely novel type of production line as quickly as possible.”