Researchers at Imperial College London have developed low-cost sensors that, when integrated into textiles, can provide real-time readings about the state of the body, TechnicalTextile reported. The sensors are made from an innovative conductive cotton-based filament called Pecotex.
They are able to track the process of breathing, heart rate, and when installed in a face mask or certain areas of underwear, they can capture traces of ammonia. Potential applications for physiological monitoring clothing include exercise, sleep and stress monitoring, diagnosis and symptom detection. Further development of the technology will make it possible to create solutions for integrating energy accumulators, heaters, devices to create an antistatic effect into clothing. According to the developers, the cost per meter of Pecotex thread is only $0.15, and the characteristics allow it to be used in industrial standard computerized machines.
The resulting material is machine washable, more durable than existing alternatives, and more electrically conductive than silver-based conductive fibers. The study was published in the journal Materials Today.