Advanced Fiber Materials, Volume. 6, Issue 3, 00385(2024)

An Ultrahigh-Strength Braided Smart Yarn for Wearable Individual Sensing and Protection

Kai Wang1、†, Yunchu Shen1、†, Tairan Wang1, Zixin Li1, Baoping Zheng1, Zhijia Dong1, Fanggang Ning2, Gaoming Jiang1, Gang Zhao3、*, Chaoyu Chen1、**, and Pibo Ma1、***
Author Affiliations
  • 1Engineering Research Center of Knitting Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textile Science and Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
  • 2Industrial Research Institute of Nonwovens and Technical Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao University, Shandong 266075, People’s Republic of China
  • 3Department of Hand Surgery, Wuxi 9th People’s Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Wuxi 214062, China
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    The insufficient comprehensive mechanical properties and inadequate flexibility of wearable sensors limit their body-protection capability, durability, and comfort. There are challenges in using flexible wearable devices for high-performance practical applications, especially on large scales. Here, an ultrahigh-strength ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene braided smart yarn (UBSY) has been designed and mass produced. It is based on triboelectric nanogenerators and prepared by combining commercial ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene yarn and conductive yarn with a cored biaxial braided structure. Structural parameters, including the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene yarn diameter, twist, and braiding pitch, are optimized to balance the mechanical properties and electrical outputs. The prepared UBSYs are characterized based on a range of reliable properties, including ultrahigh tensile strength (194.83 N), excellent abrasive resistance (up to 306 abrasive cycles), great hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 115.49°), acid and alkali splash resistance, and decent triboelectric outputs (1.5 V, 3.0 nA, and 0.5 nC). An intelligent weft-knitted textile wearable sensor is fabricated with UBSY using a matured flat-knitting technique, which provides excellent mechanical strength, physical protection and comfort. Furthermore, a pair of smart elbow guards have been demonstrated to highlight UBSY-based wearable sensors’ potential in outdoor sports management. In addition, equipped with a satisfactory body protective capacity against various risks and matured preparation technologies, the UBSY-based wearable sensor provides a practical solution for large-scale applications of high-performance motion sensing in complex environments.

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    Kai Wang, Yunchu Shen, Tairan Wang, Zixin Li, Baoping Zheng, Zhijia Dong, Fanggang Ning, Gaoming Jiang, Gang Zhao, Chaoyu Chen, Pibo Ma. An Ultrahigh-Strength Braided Smart Yarn for Wearable Individual Sensing and Protection[J]. Advanced Fiber Materials, 2024, 6(3): 00385

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    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: Oct. 5, 2023

    Accepted: Jan. 23, 2024

    Published Online: Jul. 31, 2024

    The Author Email: Zhao Gang (zhaogangmd@suda.edu.cn), Chen Chaoyu (chency@jiangnan.edu.cn), Ma Pibo (mapibo@jiangnan.edu.cn)

    DOI:10.1007/s42765-024-00385-w

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