Changes in characteristics of silver conductive fabrics owing to perspiration and washing
So-Hyun Park, Hyewon Kim, Suhyun Lee
Abstract
perspiration. After washing, the silver layer on the surface of the conductive knitted fabric peeled off due to the interference and friction between the fabrics caused by the mechanical force generated during the cleaning process. There was no obvious chemical change, but the contact angle decreased as the nano-roughness decreased owing to the removal of silver particles. The conductivity slightly increased after washing but did not show a significant difference at 10% elongation. Finally, as the frequency of exposure to perspiration and washing increased, the silver layer coating the fiber or fabric surface peeled off and was damaged, resulting in a significant color change. Additionally, the chemical composition of the silver layer was significantly altered by perspiration and water and became hydrophilic. Surface resistance also increased linearly as the frequency of exposure to perspiration and washing increased. In terms of hand value, softness and smoothness decreased, and warmness increased after several cycles. Under all conditions, the conductive fabric with silver-coated yarn maintained a more optimized appearance and electrical properties than the silver-coated fabric according to the manufacturing method. Therefore, conductive yarn is more suitable for manufacturing conductive knitted fabrics for smart clothing in terms of durability. Additionally, specific management plans based on the actual use and environment of smart clothing using conductive knitted fabric are urgently needed.