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R ecent studies conducted at Rice University's Brown School of Engineering have shown that conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) threads can be easily in- corporated into a washable athletic t-shirt to provide continuous monitoring of the heart rate, as well as deliver accurate and continuous electrocardiogram (EKG) data to the wearer. In 2013, Rice University research devel- oped a stronger carbon nanotube fiber with better electrical and thermal conductivity. Encouraged by the fact that wearable tech- nology is projected to grow to a $70 billion industry globally by 2025, the research team decided to advance its previous CNT research by focusing on the healthcare sector. e Rice team, headed by Matteo Pasquali, chemical and biomolecular engineering professor, along with Rice graduate student Lauren Taylor, lead author on the study, also worked with Dr. Mehdi Razavi, director of Electrophysiology Clinical Research & Innovations, at the Texas Heart Institute. e expanded study focuses on medical, fitness, and wellness applications through the development of a CNT t-shirt. Taylor notes, "Dr. Razavi and his Texas Heart Institute colleagues helped us determine how we could maximize the shirt's skin-contact, utilizing carbon nanotube fibers to provide the most accurate information in monitoring the wearer's vital signs." As a medical device, the athletic shirt can sense, store, analyze, extract, and communicate this information to a cellphone or monitor in the wearer's pocket. In tests conducted by the team, the fitted carbon nanotube t-shirt proved to perform better at gathering data, with better accuracy, than standard chest- strap monitors. When compared to medical electrode monitors, the carbon nanotube shirt gave slightly better EKGs. e university's ongoing carbon fiber re- search in textiles/apparel is advancing this sector through Rice's Carbon Hub, a multi-uni- versity research initiative launched in 2019. Its most recent study utilizes conductive carbon nanotube threads, weaving functionality into comfortable apparel. "By using a standard sewing machine, our 'smart' athletic t-shirt or other appropriate clothing can incorporate the carbon nanotube threads," says Taylor. "ese threads can easily be topstitched onto the finished shirt just like using a standard thread." e so, flexible, and functional carbon fibers have proven to be just as conductive as metal wires, are comfortable against the skin, and are far less likely to break while the body is in motion. e future for this type of device may also incorporate energy-harvesting to convert body heat, movement, or solar energy into raw power. Two types of t-shirts were produced to com- pare the level of the shirts' efficiency, one with two threads that acted as a heart rate monitor, and another with five threads that acted as an ECG machine. e conductive threads were then connected to a Bluetooth transmitter. e threads act as electrodes, which are connected to a commercial heart-rate monitor. The research concluded that CNT threads proved to be ideal for wearable textiles. "e unique combination of sewability, durability, and functionality showcased by our work represents a major step forward for wearable electronic textiles," states Taylor. n Kathlyn Swantko is president and founder of FabricLink Network, www.TheTechnicalCenter.com and www. fabriclink.com. Contact: kgswantko@fabriclink.com Threading the Needle with Carbon How Researchers are Advancing 'Smart' Apparel to the Next Level. by Kathlyn Swantko Rice University's lab uses a customized rope-mak- ing device to bundle the CNT fibers into larger threads for sewing. EDUCATION / RICE UNIVERSITY FabricLink.com TheTechnicalCenter.com "Thank you for all the support you have provided to Concept III over the years. You know how much we value it. Keep up the good work!" David Parkes President Concept III Textiles Why clients are excited about the benefits of The FabricLink Network Partnership Opportunities: Kristi Rummel kristi@rummelmedia.com 608.435.6220 Editorial Opportunities: Kathy Swantko kgswantko@fabricklink.com 818.345.7501 How will they find you, if you're not there? The FabricLink Network THE Networking / Education Search Engine for ALL Things Textile Related! FL-TTC-TI-2016-2_Layout 1 9/19/19 11:54 AM Page 1 32 • Textile Insight ~ November/December 2022 textileinsight.com Photo: Jeff Fitlow