All the latest information from the textile world

The Sefar Group has a worldwide presence, with subsidiaries in 21 countries and agencies in a further 75 countries. The Smart Fabrics Group was founded seven years ago as part of the Sefar AG. Typical projects are currently located in the solar power, sensor system and heating sectors. A few of these Smart Fabrics projects and technologies are presented below.

In recent years, for example, Sefar has developed a transparent front electrode on a fabric base for flexible solar cells. The synthetic fabric is coated on one side with a gas-tight, transparent layer ; it offers transmittance of over 85 percent, and can be processed using the roll-to-roll method. The conductivity in the fabric is created by means of woven-in metal wires (R < 1 Ω/sq).

Conventional solar technologies are based on materials like ITO, TCO, CNT or nanowires. These materials are either brittle, expensive, UV-unstable, or poor conductors.

Currently the electrode has been optimized for so-called dye solar cells (DSCs). However it can also be utilized for further optoelectronic applications such as conventional solar cells, OLEDs, electroluminescent lamps, or displays.

PowerSense fabrics

Knitted fabrics to detect break-ins

For a joint project with Tamper-Proof Global Systems Corporation (TPGS), Sefar developed a knitted fabric with a meander-shaped, embedded infinite metal wire. The fine wire is closely integrated above the knit width of 1.20 m.

The aim of this application is to detect break-ins in cargo containers. Here, all six sides within the container are covered with the fabric. The individual knitted fabric sections are electrically connected to an electronic monitoring system, and are also coated with an additional protective layer.
As soon as the thin metal wire in one of the sections is broken, an alarm sounds.

Fabrics for temperature measurement

Another textile sensor was invented and built for the EU project "PROSPIE". Here it was important that the average surface temperature could be recorded without creating heat build-up. The open fabric of the textile temperature sensor from Sefar fulfilled this requirement.

Filter fabric with flow speed sensor

The flow velocity of a fluid can be measured according to the principle of Constant Temperature Anemometry (CTA). Here the fluid flows through filter fabric containing two spatially separated wire structures. One structure is warmed up to a few Kelvin higher than the fluid temperature, and the other structure measures the actual fluid temperature. The temperature of the heated structure is kept constant by an electronic control – independent of the fluid flow. The voltage required corresponds to the fluid speed. In this way, the fluid flow can be recorded across the entire cross section of the pipe.

Stretch measurement is an important element for recording mechanical processes in fabrics and plastic components. Sefar has developed a special sensor yarn for this purpose. In contrast to stretch sensors, which are based on changes in conductivity in coated yarns, the Sefar yarn only displays minimal hysteresis behavior. The measuring curve shows a few loaded/unloaded cycles with a short pause in between. The stretch in each cycle amounts to 1.5 percent – a typical value for dynamic strain in fabrics.

Sefar sets standards

Sefar purchases the weaving accessories it needs for processing sensitive warp yarns from Groz-Beckert. For the highest weaving densities, 12-row warp stop motions are used. Carbon-fiber reinforced hybrid heald frames from Groz-Beckert enable Sefar to weave at widths of up to 430 cm without intermediate struts getting in the way. For the finest monofilaments, the Swiss company uses healds and drop wires from Groz-Beckert.

Do you have any questions you'd like to ask about weaving accessories or weaving preparation? If so, Groz-Beckert looks forward to a discussion with you!