• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.168-179
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• 2021

This study presents and develops a textile type touch sensor structural design that is easy to implement. First, the design of the touch sensor circuit finds the size of the switch with the easiest finger contact and selects a structure with a long circuit with the lowest resistance value. An experiment is performed on a change in an electrostatic capacitance value that accompanies the distance on the electrode and the magnitude of the electrode area of the structure; however, the structure having the distance on the electrode and the large electrode area shows the best resistance change. The laundry assessment was conducted three times at a time and ten times at a time with an average standard deviation less than one ohm, with little change in resistance. Consequently, there were no problems with durability and performance for laundry. Finally, in the bending evaluation, the difference in resistance can be seen between 1-2 ohms and was developed as a smart wearable in the future; in addition, there was no problem as a difference in resistance can be seen between 1 and 2 ohms.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.63-76
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of contact type textile electrode structure on heart activity signal acquisition for smart healthcare. In this study, we devised six contact type textile electrodes whose electrode size and configuration were manipulated for measuring heart activity signals using computerized embroidery. We detected heart activity signals using a modified lead II and by attaching each textile electrode to the chest band in four healthy male subjects in a standing static posture. We measured the signals four times repeatedly for all types of electrodes. The heart activity signals were sampled at 1 kHz using a BIOPAC ECG100, and the detected original signals were filtered through a band-pass filter. To compare the performance of heart activity signal acquisition among the different structures of the textile electrodes, we conducted a qualitative analysis using signal waveform and size as parameters. In addition, we performed a quantitative analysis by calculating signal power ratio (SPR) of the heart activity signals obtained through each electrode. We analyzed differences in the performance of heart activity signal acquisition of the six electrodes by performing difference and post-hoc tests using nonparametric statistic methods on the calculated SPR. The results showed a significant difference both in terms of qualitative and quantitative aspects of heart activity signals among the tested contact type textile electrodes. Regarding the configurations of the contact type textile electrodes, the three-dimensionally inflated electrode (3DIE) was found to obtain better quality signals than the flat electrode. However, regarding the electrode size, no significant difference was found in performance of heart signal acquisition for the three electrode sizes. These results suggest that the configuration method (flat/3DIE), which is one of the two requirements of a contact type textile electrode structure for heart activity signal acquisition, has a critical effect on the performance of heart activity signal acquisition for wearable healthcare. Based on the results of this study, we plan to develop a smart clothing technology that can monitor high-quality heart activity without time and space constraints by implementing a clothing platform integrated with the textile electrode and developing a performance improvement plan.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.386-398
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• 2020

This study compared dip-coating and in situ polymerization methods for the development of nanofiber-based E-textile using polypyrrole. Nanofiber webs were fabricated by electrospinning an aqueous poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution. Subsequently, the PVA nanofiber web underwent thermal treatment to improve water resistance. Dip-coating and in situ polymerization methods were used to deposit polypyrrole on the surfaces of the nanofiber web. An FE-SEM analysis was also conducted to examine specimen surface characteristics along with EDS and FT-IR that analyzed the chemical bonding between polypyrrole and specimens. The line resistance and sheet resistance of the treated specimens were measured. Finally, an electrocardiogram (ECG) was measured with textile sensors made of the polypyrrole-deposited PVA nanofiber webs. The polypyrrole-deposited PVA nanofiber webs fabricated by dip-coating dissolved in the dip-coating solution and indicated damage to the nanofibers. However, in the case of in situ polymerization, polypyrrole nanoparticles were deposited on the surface and inter-web structure of the PVA nanofiber web. The resistance measurements indicated that polypyrrole-deposited PVA nanofiber webs fabricated by in situ polymerization with an average sheet resistance of 5.3 k(Ω/□). Polypyrrole-deposited PVA nanofiber webs fabricated by dip-coating showed an average sheet resistance of 57.3 k(Ω/□). Polypyrrole-deposited PVA nanofibers fabricated by in situ polymerization showed a lower line and sheet resistance; in addition, they detected the electrical activity of the heart during ECG measurements. The electrodes made from polypyrrole-deposited PVA nanofiber webs by in situ polymerization showed the best performance for sensing ECG signals among the evaluated specimens.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2010

오늘날 인간의 수명이 연장되고, 웰빙과 건강에 대한 관심이 증가됨에 따라서 언제 어디서나 건강을 모니터링 할 수 있는 건강 스마트 의류 시스템이 개발되고 있다. 이를 위하여 최근에는 생체신호의 모니터링이 가능하도록 디자인된 의류에 통합된 형태의 직물 전극이 개발되고 있다. 혁신적으로 의류 시스템에 통합되어 착용 가능한 니트, 우븐, 자수방식의 텍스타일 전극에 대한 다양한 연구가 개발 제시되고 있으며, 이의 일부는 상용화되어 있다. 이에 본 연구는 경위사의 일정한 직조제어 자동화 시스템이 가능한 컴퓨터 자카드 직기의 캐드(CAD) 직조디자인 방식을 통하여 생체신호 센싱 기능이 향상된 새로운 텍스타일 전극디자인을 연구하고자 하였다. 이를 위하여 본 연구에서는 기존 생체신호 센싱 전극의 개발 및 연구 동향, 비직물/전극 타입에 대한 단점과 장점에 대한 비교 분석을 이론적으로 살펴보고, 자카드 직조 직물 기반으로 심전도 센싱용 텍스타일 전극을 디자인하여 실험 연구하였다. 자카드 직조 방식의 심전도 센싱용 직물 전극은 전극 인터페이스 디자인 방식, 이중직물형 직조 디자인 방식, 사가공 등의 요인들을 고려하여 개발하였다. 본 연구에서 도출된 최종 자카드 직조 직물 기반의 텍스타일 전극은 스마트 의류에 통합시킨 텍스타일 전극 모듈로서 적용되여 향후 상용화 방안을 모색할 수 있다.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2023

This study aims to develop electromyography (EMG) textile electrodes and assess their performance and signal stability by examining variations in layer count and fabric types. We fabricated the electrodes through layering and pressing techniques, focusing on configurations with different layer counts (Layer-0, Layer-1, and Layer-2). Our findings indicate that layer presence significantly influences muscle activation measurements, with enhanced performance correlated with increased layer numbers. Subsequently, we created electrodes from five distinct fabrics (neoprene, spandex cushion, 100% polyester, nylon spandex, and cotton canvas), each maintaining a Layer-2 structure. In performance tests, nylon spandex fabric, particularly heavier variants, outperformed others, while the spandex cushion electrodes showed superior stability in muscle activation signal acquisition. This research elucidates the connection between electrode performance and factors like layer number and electrode-skin contact area. It suggests a novel approach to electrode design, focusing on layer properties and targeted pressure application on specific sensor areas, rather than uniformly increasing sleeve pressure.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the necessary mechanical properties of conductive multifilament yarns for fabricating the electrodes of biosignal measurement pressure and stretch textile sensors using embroidery. When electrodes and circuits for smart wearable products are produced through the embroidery process using conductive multifilament yarns, unnecessary material loss is minimized, and complex electrode shapes or circuit designs can be produced without additional processes using a computer embroidering machine. However, because ordinary missionary threads cannot overcome the stress in the embroidery process and yarn cutting occurs, herein, we analyzed the S-S curve, thickness, and twist structure, which are three types of silver-coated multifilament yarns, and measured the stress in the thread of the embroidery simultaneously. Thus, the required mechanical properties of the yarns in the embroidery process were analyzed. In the actual sample production, cutting occurred in silver-coated multifilament rather than silver-coated polyamide/polyester, which showed the lowest S-S curve. In the embroidery process, the twist was unwound through repetitive vertical movement. Further, we fabricated a piezoresistive pressure/tension sensor to measure gauge factor, which is an index for measuring biological signals. We confirmed that the sensor can be applied to the fabrication of embroidery electrodes, which is an important process in the mass production of smart wearable products.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.231-236
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• 2019

Ni hydroxides ($Ni(OH)_2$) are synthesized on Ni foam by varying the hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) concentration using an electrodeposition process for pseudocapacitor (PC) applications. In addition, the effects of HMT concentration on the $Ni(OH)_2$ structure and the electrochemical properties of the PCs are investigated. HMT is the source of amine-based $OH^-$ in the solution; thus, the growth rate and morphological structure of $Ni(OH)_2$ are influenced by HMT concentration. When $Ni(OH)_2$ is electrodeposited at a constant voltage mode of -0.85 V vs. Ag/AgCl, the cathodic current and the number of nucleations are significantly reduced with increasing concentration of HMT from 0 to 10 mM. Therefore, $Ni(OH)_2$ is sparsely formed on the Ni foam with increasing HMT concentration, showing a layered double-hydroxide structure. However, loosely packed $Ni(OH)_2$ grains that are spread on Ni foam maintain a much greater surface area for reaction and result in the effective utilization of the electrode material due to the steric hindrance effect. It is suggested that the $Ni(OH)_2$ electrodes with HMT concentration of 7.5 mM have the maximum specific capacitance (1023 F/g), which is attributed to the facile electrolyte penetration and fast proton exchange via optimized surface areas.