3D Printing of Thermoplastic Polyurethane on Woven Fabric for Body-Centric Applications

Some studies have reported using 3D-printed dielectric electroactive polymer (DEAP) on woven fabric (WF) for a suitable electroactive response in the past decade. However, little has been reported on using 3D-printed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) on WF as a part of a wearable sensor in body-centric applications (BCA). This study reports the effect of mechanical loading (0–25 N) on the dielectric constant (ɛ_r) of 3D-printed TPU over WF as a substrate for BCA. For ascertaining the change in ɛ_r, the substrate was loaded and unloaded (for repeated cycles) along the weft side of the WF for mechanical strain. The 3D printed TPU on WF has shown programmable changes as 4D capabilities in bond characteristics (based on attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), surface roughness (R_a), porosity % (based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and physical properties (based on X-ray diffractions (XRD) analysis). To ascertain the BCA, the wearability of the developed sensor was ensured based on the specific absorption rate (SAR), which was observed as 1.57 W/kg.