Electrically conducting yarn

An electrically conducting yarn is yarn that conducts electricity. Conducting yarns are used to manufacture carpets and other items that dissipate static electricity, such as work clothes in highly flammable environments, e.g., in the petrochemistry industry.

There are several methods known to manufacture electrically conductive textiles. The simplest way is to incorporate metal wires or wire meshes into fabrics. another approach is to use metalized yarns. In staple yarns, it is possible to spin short strands of regular yarns with metal yarn. Yarn may be made of a central metal strand with regular yarn woven around it.

An altogether different approach involves yarns based on conductive polymers, such as polyaniline.

See also

• Thermally conducting yarn