Large-scale production of weavable, dyeable and durable spandex/CNT/ cotton core-sheath yarn for wearable strain sensors

Yarn-based wearable sensors have attracted attention, but it is difficult to fabricate yarn strain sensors with largescale production, weavability, dyeability and durability toward real applications as wearable electronics and smart textiles. Herein, we report a facile core spun strategy to fabricated spandex/CNT cotton yarns (SCCY) on an industrial spinning machine. For the first time, wearable sensor could be dyed through a simple dip dyeing process with different colors (red, yellow, blue and black). The unique core-sheath structure endowed the yarn with good sensitivity (gauge factor of 21.85 at 300% strain), broad sensing range (0%-300% strain), excellent durability (against dip dyeing, washing, acid and alkali) and abrasion resistance (resistance change 5% after rubber 100 cycles). The sensor yarn was also successfully woven/knitted into textiles and it could be sewn into a fabric. The weavable and dyeable core-spun yarn in the present work provide a feasible way for industrial-scale manufacture wearable sensors.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel and simple spinning strategy was proposed to fabricate spandex/CNT cotton yarns with good performance, which could be dyed into different colors through a concise dyeing process to become sensors. The sensor exhibited good sensitivity, broad sensing range, excellent durability, and abrasion resistance, and could be successfully integrated into textiles. The weavable and dyeable core-spun yarn provided a feasible approach for industrial-scale production of wearable sensors.