Abstract
Electroconductiye fabrics were prepared to improve the properties of conductive electrode pad material used for electrotherapy when it is subjected to various movement of human body. Highly stretchable and conductive fabrics were prepared by in-situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole on nylon/spandex stretch fabric. Electroless Cu plated polyester composites were also prepared and the effect of plasma pretreatment was investigated in order to improve adhesion between electroless plated Cu layer and polyester. Performance properties of prepared stretchable conductive fabric were evaluated in terms of conductivity changes as a function of tensile strain, repeated extension and continuous current application time and distance. The fabric conductivity was well maintained after 50 cycles of repeated extension and prolonged treatment time. And conductivity of prepared composites was well maintained over 12 cm distance. Furthermore, it was found that electrotherapy with prepared electrode pad could reduce contact allodynia and heat hypersensitivity. Therefore prepared electrode pad in this study can be practically useful for electrotherapy.
