Conductive Yarns Sewability Assessment, Shieldex Collaborates in NC State Study!

North Carolina State University is Conducting a Sewability Assessment of conductive yarns.  New conductive yarns and threads are currently being processed with new materials and technology.  Sewing and Embroidery using them offers unrestricted pattern-ability.  Sewing allows conductive patterns that are curved and even sharply angled to be used.  Most conductive yarns are advertised for their potential electrical performance.  The actual electrical performance can only be determined once the yarn has actually been sewn!  Some yarns are affected by the sewing machine to the point that they may not actually deliver desired performance when used in a sewing machine.

Conductive Yarns Sewability Assessment, VTT Collaborates in NC State Study!  Initially, yarn physical properties (strength, bending, and abrasion) will be evaluated.  This Assessment will help to determine influential parameters affecting machine-sewability.  This step evaluates the interactions between the sewing machine and the yarn.  The yarns will then be tested under various sewing conditions (tension, speed, density, length).  Machine Sewability testing will be accomplished to see whether the thread is usable as a bobbin yarn or a needle yarn.  The needle yarn is usually stressed more than the bobbin yarn during sewing.  Ultimately these models will determine predictions on yarn usability, whether the yarn is deemed sewable or a bobbin yarn, or not sewable.

Yarns that are deemed “sewable” will be used in sewing several basic conductive patterns.  These patterns will be evaluated for their electrical performance and durability.  A second level of standard tests involving wash durability and bending fatigue will be applied to the patterns.  The goal of this assessment is to help thread manufacturers of conductive yarns find answers to questions about the structure and capabilities of their yarns and allow them to engineer yarn properties to improve the sewability of their yarns.

North Carolina State faculty members Dr. Minyoung Suh is the Project Leader, assisted by:  Dr. Rong Yin Conductive yarn research, and Kavita Mathur will analyze and predict textile performance.  This assessment is expected to last 12 months.  This study should provide great information about Conductive Embroidery Yarns!  V Technical Textiles, Inc.’s role in this Sewability Assessment will be to supply the needed SILVER conductive yarns and to offer industry/technical expertise throughout the duration of the project to help in the Assessment.

V Technical Textiles, Inc.

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Critical Research Helps to make our Textiles Better!