TPU films enable printed electronics for smart clothing

Understanding smart clothing

Smart clothing, also known as smart textiles or e-textiles, refers to garments and textiles that are embedded with electronic circuits, components, sensors, power sources and physical or wireless connectivity features, which can provide added functionality beyond conventional clothing, including, communication, indication, user interaction, and the monitoring and feedback of a wearer’s bio-signals and bodily functions.

As in the case of any apparel, the wearer should feel comfortable, and the product should be robust enough to handle body movements and resist wear and tear.

Covestro has developed a concept bio-sensor shirt that showcases the potential of TPU films in smart clothing. For demonstration purpose, the shirt features circuits printed on the outside, allowing customers to see the printed circuits and electrode sensors, including the connection traces, that are usually applied on the inside. These circuits are printed on Platilon® TPU Film and then heat-laminated to the fabric, demonstrating the practical application of this technology.

Customers can directly see how the circuits can be designed to stretch and flex with the fabric and body contours. The electrode pads provide examples into how the sensors would come into contact with the body, and the connection system is just one example of electronics mating systems.

Responding to the growing demand in smart clothing and functional apparel, Covestro is helping to drive innovation with its range of TPU films that allow the integration of printed electronics circuitry onto stretchable and washable bio-sensor systems without compromising comfort.

Platilon® TPU Films are ideal substrates for printing and integrating functional and comfortable body-worn bio-sensing and electronics solutions in clothing and apparel. The thin and lightweight nature, plus the soft hand feel of TPU films ensures the wearer’s comfort, making the embedded printed circuits unobtrusive during everyday wear and use.

Furthermore, TPU-film-based circuits are highly durable and can reliably handle long-term and repeated stretches and flexes without compromising functionality, which is essential.

By virtue of their controllable melting points, TPU printed circuits can be seamlessly integrated or laminated into a broad variety of textiles whereby they do not impact the functional, aesthetic and practical needs of smart clothing. Platilon® TPU Films can also seal and protect printed electronic components, such as bio-sensors for measuring muscle activity, heart rate or nerve response or similar. They also act as a barrier against moisture, dust, sweat, and other external factors that may affect the performance of the printed electronics.

Smart textile applications across industries

Covestro has a broad portfolio of TPU films for printed electronics applications and continues to develop innovations to provide innovators and developers options to create interactive clothing that is not merely appealing but also lightweight, seamless, durable and highly functional. And as interest in smart clothing continues to grow, by integrating printed biosensors and circuits into apparel, Covestro’s investments and partnerships are set to drive thought and innovation in exciting fields such as sports and athletic apparel, which can enhance performance monitoring and feedback; health and wellness applications, providing real-time health monitoring and data collection; and work clothing, offering safety and productivity enhancements through integrated sensors.