Fabrication and characterization of wrapped metal yarns-based fabric temperature sensors

Abstract

Textile temperature sensors are highly in demanded keep a real-time and accurate track of human body temperature for identification of healthy conditions or clinical diagnosis. Among various materials for textile temperature sensors, temperature-sensitive metal fibers have highest precision. However, those metal fibers are mechanically too weak, and break constantly during the weaving process. To enhance the mechanical strength of the metal fibers, this paper proposes to make wrapped metal fibers using wrapping technology, and characterize the effect of wrapped metal yarns on both mechanical properties and sensing behaviors. The wrapped yarns were woven into fabrics, forming the fabric temperature sensors. Results show that strength and maximum strain of the wrapped yarns are 2.69 and 1.82 times of pure Pt fibers. The response time of fabric temperature sensors using wrapped yarns was observed as 0.78 s and 1.1 s longer compared to that using Pt fibers when front and back sides contacted heat source, respectively. It is recommended that the wrapping method should be implemented for the protection of Pt fibers in fabric temperature sensors.