Conductive Fabric Coating Sequence for Wet-Resistant Touch Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conductive fabrics used for operating capacitive touch-screen devices degrade over time due to incompatibility between water-repellant and conductive treatments, particularly when exposed to wet conditions, leading to unreliable performance.
Innovation Solution
A 'wet on wet' process is employed to treat fabrics with electrically conductive particles followed by a water-repellant coating, ensuring the coatings adhere and maintain conductivity, even when the fabric is still wet, reversing the conventional approach to achieve durable and long-lasting water-repellant conductive properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fabrics are treated with water-repellant finish first, then it is very difficult to successfully treat them to make them conductive as well
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional treatment sequence by applying conductive particles to wet fabric before the water-repellant finish is fully cured. This reversal allows the conductive treatment to penetrate and bond with the fabric substrate while the water-repellant coating is still in a receptive wet state, rather than trying to apply conductive particles to already-water-repellant dry fabric where they would be repelled and fail to adhere properly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the conductive particle application while the water-repellant finish is still wet and in a preliminary uncured state. This preliminary action takes advantage of the still-receptive state of the water-repellant coating to ensure proper adhesion and integration of the conductive particles before the final water-repellant properties fully set, preventing subsequent degradation.
2Reliability
If conventional wet-on-dry process is used to apply water-repellant finish to conductive fabric, then the finish does not adequately adhere to the fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conductive particle application step with the water-repellant finish application step into a single integrated process. By applying conductive particles to the fabric while the water-repellant finish is still wet, both treatments are applied simultaneously in a combined operation rather than as separate sequential steps, ensuring proper adhesion without requiring additional process complexity.
3Reliability
If fabrics are made conductive with metallic threads, then conductivity is achieved, but the silver or metallic threads are undesirable and conductivity degrades over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and form of the conductive material from traditional metallic threads to fine conductive particles. This parameter change in the physical form of the conductive agent allows for distribution throughout the fabric without visible metallic threads, improving user acceptance while the particle form factor enables better integration with the water-repellant finish matrix, enhancing long-term conductivity stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material structure where conductive particles are embedded within the water-repellant finish coating on the fabric fibers. This composite approach combines the conductive properties of metallic or nonmetallic particles with the protective and adhesive properties of the water-repellant finish, resulting in a durable conductive fabric that maintains both conductivity and water-repellency without visible metallic threads.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method results in fabrics that maintain conductivity and water-repellency, enabling reliable operation of touch-screen devices without the need for direct body contact, with improved durability against wear and tear, including exposure to snow, ice, and laundering.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating electrically conductive metallic or nonmetallic particles in sufficient quantities to achieve the necessary level of conductivity
Implementation Method 2
treating the electrically conductive fabrics with a water repellant process
Data Source
AI summary
Water repellant conductive fabrics and methods for making the same are provided. The water repellant conductive fabrics may have a conductivity suitable to operate touch-sensitive electronic devices without a conductive path to the human body.