How Smart Clothing Is Made—Printed Electronics

These challenges are being addressed with system-in-foil technology, better known as "printed electronics." This technology is already being used in ECG monitoring devices worn as patches on the body, Van den Brand pointed out. "It is already used for medical devices, so that's a strong argument for also trying to use it here," he said.

In order to protect the electronics, "We laminate a very thin rubbery material on both sides of the electronics," Van den Brand said. "That doesn't influence the mechanical properties, but it does protect the electronics from moisture entering directly on the circuit."

This starts with a thin, rubbery material--with a thickness of 25-micrometers--as a base substrate.