Abstract:
Electro-conductive (EC) yarns can be woven into a hybrid fabric to enable electrical current to flow through the
fabric from one component A to another component B. These hybrid fabrics form the bases of woven e-textiles.
However, at the crossing point of an EC yarn in warp and in weft direction, there is a contact resistance and thus
generation of heat may occur in this area. Both phenomena are inseparable: if the contact resistance in the EC
contact increases, the generated heat will increase as well. Predicting this electrical and thermal behavior of EC
contacts in hybrid woven fabrics with stainless steel yarns is possible with a mathematical model based on the
behavior of a metal oxide varistor (MOV). This paper will discuss in detail how this can be achieved.
