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Stretchable Conductors Enabled by Metal Coated Polymer Spheres

Abstract

This paper presents a novel concept for stretchable conductors. Metal coated polymer spheres were densely packed in biocompatible silicone tubes. The resistivity of the conductors were in the approximate range of 1x10(-4) Omega m at 0% strain and 50% strain could be applied before degrading their electrical performance. Initial results showed good reproducibility and no drift in resistance values up to 1000 cycles with 0%-25% strain. This make the conductors well suited for digital low speed data transmission. The initial application is intended for integration of electronics in clothing; the conductors have been tested with success transmitting data from a commercial digital combined humidity and temperature sensor.

Category

Academic article

Client

  • Research Council of Norway (RCN) / 188002

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Astrid-Sofie Vardøy
  • Andreas Larsson
  • Knut Olav Halgrim Gislerud
  • Hamzah Bhatti
  • Kristin Imenes
  • Trine Margrethe Seeberg

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Digital / Smart Sensors and Microsystems
  • University of South-Eastern Norway

Year

2013

Published in

IEEE Sensors Journal

ISSN

1530-437X

Publisher

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Volume

13

Issue

10

Page(s)

4049 - 4055

View this publication at Cristin