Stretchable, Flexible Electronics for Integration into Textiles for Smart Garments (Wearable Technology Europe 2015)

Integration of electronics into materials and objects that have not been functionalized with electronics before, open up extensive possibilities to support mankind. In order to bring electronics closer to the human skin textile based objects like clothing, furniture or bandages are attractive carriers. Foil based, printed electronics are interesting to be integrated as they are thin, large area and cost effectively available components. Integration of electronics is achieved by using conventional textile technologies.

Mrs. Dr. Margreet de Kok (female) received her PhD in polymer chemistry in 1999 at the Limburg University Centre of Diepenbeek (B) on the synthesis and evaluation of electroluminescent polymers for OLEDs. She joined Philips Research in 1999 as senior researcher and was responsible for the material development and new applications of OLEDs comprising biomedical applications. In 2008 she joined TNO / Holst Centre to work on integration of (organic) electronics in stretchable and wearable systems including textile integration. Free form factors is the main benefit for printed electronics she is currently exploring for automotive applications like smart surfaces. She is the project leader of the team developing In Mold Electronics and Thermoforming of printed electronics.

Holst Centre/TNO (www.holstcentre.com), set up by the TNO and IMEC, is an independent shared-innovation R&D Centre for Flexible Electronics and Sensor Technologies in the Netherlands. A key feature is its partnership model with industry and academia comprising more than 40 international companies. Holst Centre/TNO has major activities in the areas of TOLAE, (hybrid) printed electronics, flexible OLEDs, photovoltaics and oxide transistor technology. Holst Centre has demonstrated solutions for numerous hybrid and printed electronics products, varying from printed temperature and humidity sensing devices, paper electronics, health-patches, smart garments, and (thermoformed) stretchable products