Materials

This course is heavily based in materials. I will provide samples for you to experiment with, but you will be responsible for purchasing materials for individual projects. For more documentation of conductive/non-conductive materials and tools, check out How to Get What You Want and eTextile Summer Camp.

TEXTILES

There are two main distributors in the US for conductive fabric: LessEMF and VTech Textiles.
{MORE CONDUCTIVE}

  • Stretchy Conductive Fabric: Silver-plated conductive knit fabric. Stretchy in one direction.
  • Jersey Conductive Fabric: Super soft conductive knit fabric. Stretchy in one direction.
  • Copper Ripstop Fabric: Copper conductive woven fabric. Non-stretchy. Solderable.
  • Silver Ripstop Fabric: Silver-plated conductive woven fabric. Non-stretchy. Solderable.
    • USA: lessEMF (Ripstop Silver Fabric)
    • Europe: Statex (Silver Ripstop Shieldex Bremen)

{MORE RESISTIVE}

  • Velostat: Piezoresistive material – specifically carbon impregnated black polyethylene film. Changes resistance when deformed. Great for pressure/bend sensors. Non-stretchy. ***in locker
  • Eeonyx: Piezoresistive woven fabric. Stretchy in one or both directions.Great for pressure/bend/stretch sensors. We think this is magic material, but unfortunately it is hard to get your hands on small quantities in the US since Eeonyx stopped distributing to Adafruit and Sparkfun. We’ll keep this updated regularly if new distributors arise.

THREAD + YARNS

{MORE CONDUCTIVE}

  • High Flex 3981 7X1 Silver & Copper 14/000: Very conductive, Solder-able.
    • USA:
    • Europe: Karl Grimm
  • Syscom Silver Thread: thin silver fiber twisted together. very conductive. Solder-able. Can go in bobbin of sewing machine (NOT on top). ***in locker
    • USA: Syscom Advanced Materials
    • Europe:
  • Adafruit Stainless Steel Conductive Thread: Not solderable. Thin and Medium can go in bobbin of sewing machine (NOT on top).
    • Stainless Steel Medium Conductive Thread (3 ply)
    • Stainless Steel Thin Conductive Thread (2 ply)
    • Stainless Steel Thick Conductive Thread

{MORE RESISTIVE}

  • SILVERSPUN YARN: 87% combed cotton, 5% silver, 5% nylon, 3% Spandex. ***in locker

TAPES + ADHESIVES

  • Copper Tape: Super conductive with conductive adhesive (if you choose a supplier other than who we list – i.e. Amazon – and we encourage searching! – be sure the adhesive is conductive!)

CONDUCTIVE INKS

{MORE CONDUCTIVE}

    • CuPro-Cote: Copper conductive water-based paint that is great for painting circuits. Surface resistivity of < 1 Ohm/sq at 1 mil dry film thickness. Helpful High Low Tech tutorial here. Mix with water or personal lubricant for silk screening. ***in locker
    • Circuit Scribe: Conductive ink pen (quick drying). Resistance is 0.05-0.2ohms/sq/mil (2-10ohms per cm of writing)
    • Silver Conductive Ink: Conductive ink with surface resistivity of < .025 Ω/square/mil. Great for silk screening. Very, very expensive.
    • AgIC: Silver circuit ink that is very conductive. Must use with their ICPaper (cannot use on any substrate). **We have kits in the locker
      • USA + Europe: AgIC (based in Japan)

{MORE RESISTIVE}

  • Bare Conductive: Water-based, water-soluble that is best for creating sensors (as opposed to traces). 55 Ω/Sq @ 50 microns.
  • Liquid Graphite: Very resistive ink from Guerra in NYC
  • Y-SHIELD: Water-based ink with <10 ohms/sq

SPECIALTY INKS

  • Thermochromic Ink: Heat reactive ink (non-permanent) ***in locker
    • USA: Sparkfun, Matsui
    • Europe
  • Inkodye: UV sensitive dye (permanent transformation) ***in locker
  • Hydrochromic Ink
    • USA:
    • Europe:
  • Liquid Crystal
    • USA
    • Europe