Novel sensors could enable smarter textiles
(World News Science)

`As a sensor, it`s very sensitive to forces ranging from touch to tons,` said Erik Thostenson, an associate professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. Nerve-like electrically conductive nanocomposite coatings are created on the fibers using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of polyethyleneimine functionalized carbon nanotubes. `The films act much like a dye that adds electrical sensing functionality,` said Thostenson. `The EPD process developed in my lab creates this very uniform nanocomposite coating that is strongly bonded to the surface of the fiber. The process is industrially scalable for future applications.` Now, researchers can add...