An electrically conductive yarn (200, 300) comprising a first yarn (262, 362) and a second yarn (264, 364), the first yarn (262, 362) comprises or consists out of a plurality of stainless steel fibers, the second yarn (264, 364) comprises organic fibers wherein the first yarn (362) and the second yarn (364) are twisted or cabled together or the second yarn (264) is wrapped around the first yarn (262) such that the first yarn (262) is provided as a core yarn and such that the first yarn (262) provides part of the surface of the electrically conductive yarn (200).

A conductive polymeric composition includes, based on a total weight of the conductive polymeric composition, 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of carbon nanotubes, 0.2 wt % to 4 wt % of a first component, 0.1 wt % to 4 wt % of a second component made by esterification of a C.sub.16-C.sub.30 fatty acid with a polyol compound, and the balance being a polymeric component. When the first component is a first polymer obtained from polycondensation of an aromatic diacid compound and an aliphatic glycol compound, the polymeric component is a polyester. When the first component is a second polymer obtained from polycondensation of a lactam compound, a diamine compound and a dicarboxylic acid compound, the polymeric component is a polyamide.

A fabric-based item may include fabric layers and other layers of material. An array of electrical components may be mounted in the fabric-based item. The electrical components may be mounted to a support structure such as a flexible printed circuit. The flexible printed circuit may have a mesh shape formed from an array of openings. Serpentine flexible printed circuit segments may extend between the openings. The electrical components may be light-emitting diodes or other electrical devices. Polymer with light-scattering particles or other materials may cover the electrical components. The flexible printed circuit may be laminated between fabric layers or other layers of material in the fabric-based item.

A fabric-based item may be provided with a stretchable band. The stretchable band may be formed from a ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric having an opening configured to fit around a body part of a user. Circuitry may be coupled to strands of material in the stretchable band. The circuitry may include sensor circuitry for making measurements on the body part such as electrocardiogram measurements, blood pressure measurements, and respiration rate measurements. Wireless communications circuitry in the fabric-based item may be used to communicate wirelessly with external electronic equipment. A wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power. A coil formed from conductive strands in the fabric-based item may be used by wireless power receiving circuitry in the fabric-based item to receive the wireless power. The coil may have one or more turns that run around the ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric.

Yarns incorporating filaments of shape memory materials are described herein that enable the creation of fabrics, garments, and other materials with tunable force absorption or exertion capabilities, as well as creating complex shapes and structures upon actuation. Systems and methods described herein enable selective buckling, recruitment, compression, and other desirable phenomena by actuating fibers in knitted patterns, whether used as isolated filaments or in twisted yarns.

A color-changing product includes a fabric. The fabric includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is arranged using at least one fiber. The at least one fiber includes (a) an electrically conductive core and (b) a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core. The second layer is printed onto the first layer. The second layer includes a foreground thermochromic pigment that is selectively activatable by providing an electrical current to the electrically conductive core of the at least one fiber to change at least one of a foreground color or a pattern of the second layer.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber and sheets formed by a specialized gas assembly pyrolytic reactor method that permits gas phase integration of nano and micro particles (NMPs) are processed into yarn and fabric used in the manufacture of personal protective clothing and equipment that can be tailored via selection of NMPs for a wide variety of functionality depending on target application. The CNT-NMP hybrid fabrics may be designed to exhibit enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity, moisture wicking, air filtering, and environmental sensing properties.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide structures for sensing, activation, and signal networking in a composite textile. According to one embodiment, a composite textile can comprise an activation layer of a reactive yarn knit into a fabric. The reactive yarn can have at least one physical property that changes in response to a stimulus. A signaling layer of a first conductive yarn can be knit into the fabric with the activation layer. The first conductive yarn provides the stimulus to the reactive yarn. A sensing layer comprising second conductive yarn can be knit into the fabric with the activation layer and signaling layer. The second conductive yarn can provide a feedback signal corresponding to the stimulus provided by the first conductive yarn of the signaling layer.

A yarn containing a potential-generating filament. The yarn is constructed such that a positive or negative surface electrical potential is generated by applying an external force to the yarn in an axial direction of the yarn, and constructed such that a controlled surface electrical potential is generated by a maintenance or release of the external force.

A resin structure that includes a plurality of piezoelectric fibers that generate a charge by application of external energy; and an insulating resin coating at least one of the plurality of piezoelectric fibers.