The Influence of the Structure of Cotton Fabrics on the Adhesion of Conductive Polymer Printed with 3D Printing Technology

Abstract

Three-dimensional printing technology is being increasingly applied in a multitude of sectors. However, this technology is not generally applied in the same way as in other sectors, possibly due to the difficulty of adhesion between the polymer and the textile substrate. A textile garment is subjected to wear and tear during its lifetime, and a low tensile strength or rubbing resistance hinders a garment in most of the applications of this type of research. This study examined the influence of the characteristics of the cotton textile substrate, such as the weave structure and the yarn thickness, on the tensile strength of a 3D-printed element with conductive filament. Starting from the fabric with the highest tensile strength, different prints were made using this technology to incorporate conductive and heating properties into the fabric. The results validate the possibility of providing new properties to the textile by means of this technology; however, the correct selection of the textile used as a base substrate is important.