DuPont MCM unveils stretchable inks for smart clothing

December 16, 2014 - United States Of America

DuPont Microcircuit Materials (MCM), leading innovator and high-volume supplier of electronic inks, has launched a suite of stretchable electronic ink materials for use in smart clothing applications and other wearable electronics.

DuPont stretchable electronic inks deliver stable performance despite repeated elongation. A third party evaluation of fabrics that incorporate these DuPont materials to create thin electronic circuits have shown them to be washable, durable, and capable of withstanding up to 100 wash cycles. These DuPont materials can be used in many common manufacturing processes to produce smart clothing, including fitness and outerwear, without significant investment, DuPont said in a statement.

DuPont plans to offer a full material suite of conductors, encapsulants, and sensors for use in wearable electronics applications.

Michael Burrows, segment manager, DuPont MCM said, “We believe that this new line of DuPont stretchable electronic inks can be used in wearable electronics applications to make clothing more capable and comfortable.”

“Imagine how smart athletic wear could help contribute to healthier, more active lifestyles by continuously monitoring vital information such as heart and breathing rates, calories burned and even stress level,” he added.

DuPont materials have been used to create thin, form-fitting circuits that can be seamlessly bonded with many standard fabrics, allowing for comfort and freedom in wearable electronic design.

DuPont Microcircuit Materials (MCM) offers a broad range of printed electronic materials that can be used in many applications, including forming conductive traces, capacitor and resistor elements, and dielectric and encapsulating layers that are compatible with many substrate surfaces including polymer, glass and ceramic.

MCM has over 40 years of experience in the development, manufacture, sale and support of specialized thick film compositions for a variety of electronic applications in the consumer electronics, automotive, photovoltaic, biomedical, military, and telecommunications markets. (GK)