The future is here: Battery-powered yarn.
January 5th, 2008
From The Book of Joe:
High tech textiles glow with the flowAs the nights close in, scientists have unveiled textile technology that could improve safety of cyclists, joggers and pedestrians on dark winter days.
Researchers at The University of Manchester have developed battery-powered textile yarns that can be used to make clothing glow in the dark. The yarns have been developed by The William Lee Innovation Centre (WLIC), based in the University’s School of Materials — and have the potential to be incorporated into clothing worn by cyclists, joggers and pedestrians.
The development, made from electroluminescent (EL) yarns, emits light when powered by a battery.
Dr Tilak Dias, head of the WLIC, said: “At the moment the EL yarn we have developed is less flexible than conventional yarns. But it is more flexible than current optical fibres that are incorporated within fabrics to provide illumination. EL yarn can be easily incorporated into a knitted or woven fabric and the resultant active illuminating fabric provides illumination when it is powered.
The yarn consists of an inner conductive core yarn, coated with electroluminescent ink — which emits light when an electric current is passed through it — and a protective transparent encapsulation, with an outer conductive yarn wrapped around it. When the EL yarn is powered, the resultant electrical field between the inner and outer conductor causes the electroluminescent coating to emit light.
“The luminance of a single strand of the EL yarn is greater than that of photoluminescent glow yarns, which are currently used in some high visibility applications. Weaving or knitting the yarn in a particular manner, so that more yarn per unit area is achieved, improves the luminance of the EL yarn.”
The team also think the yarn could be used for flexible woven or knitted road safety signs that communicate written instructions.
Now seriously–who among us does not want to knit a road safety sign? The possibilities are endless!
8 Comments Add your own
1. Mary | January 5th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
David, for the first half of your entry, I was convinced you were joking. I think this would make good nighttime, car, and movie knitting. Reminds of those glow-in-the-dark cloned cats, too - I wonder if it would be distracting to the wearer if s/he was glowing so brightly?
2. david_demchuk | January 5th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Distracting to the wearer?? I’m not worried about the wearer, I think it would be distracting to the whole neighbourhood! It would be great for knitting at night and in the car…but I’m not sure you could do it at the movies without getting pelted with popcorn.
I feel sad for those cats. But I’m sure their fur is not being harvested for this yarn.
3. Andres P. Nevarez | January 6th, 2008 at 12:59 am
That is so Kool! Happy New Year!
4. bstewart23 | January 8th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Safety, shmafety, I want pyjamas woven with this stuff so I don’t need to turn on the bathroom light in the middle of the night!
I mean, if I wore pyjamas.
I mean, I would wear pyjamas if they were made of this stuff.
5. david_demchuk | January 10th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Oh Bret…don’t overdo it. Maybe just a smart thong instead?
6. Janey | January 20th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Ok, lighted clothing … for extra safety. Then I read “emits light when an electric current is passed through it ”
So if it is pelting down with rain, you run the risk of being electrocuted!
Janey
7. david_demchuk | January 20th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I would hope they have some way of dealing with that…otherwise their very practical yarn suddenly has become very IMpractical!
8. Cory | January 24th, 2008 at 11:29 am
EL wire is a wonderful technology. Most of what is being sold at this time is weather-resistant. Using the right inverters and sequencers, you can adjust the brightness of the lighting, as well as program animation for it. EL (electroluminescent) wire doesn’t heat up and takes very little energy to illuminate. It has endless creative potential that is only just now beginning to be explored in textile crafting.
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