Material for use with a capacitive touch screen

Abstract

A modified material for use with a capacitive touch screen is described. The modified material comprises a material impregnated with a composition comprising either a non-metallic and/or a metallic conductive agent with a binder. A variety of materials are contemplated, including, but not limited to leather. Also described is an apparatus and method of providing a conductive glove is disclosed.

1 . An electrically-conductive modified material comprising:
 a leather or leather-like material, wherein the leather or leather-like material comprises a plurality of voids therewithin;   an electrically conductive agent; and   a binder material;   wherein at least a portion of the leather or leather-like material is impregnated within the plurality of voids with the electrically conductive agent and the binder at a sufficient concentration to provide electrical conductivity in the modified material.   
     
     
         2 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 1 , wherein the modified material comprises at least about 30% electrically conductive agent. 
     
     
         3 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive agent is selected from the group consisting of: carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphite, PEDOT, silver, copper, gold, nickel, aluminum, indium, zinc, tin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive agent is substantially homogenously dispersed or suspended within the binder material. 
     
     
         5 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive agent is cured into the modified material. 
     
     
         6 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 1 , wherein the modified material has a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 6  ohm-cm. 
     
     
         7 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 6 , wherein the modified material retains a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 5  ohm-cm after the modified material is in its finished form. 
     
     
         8 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 1 , wherein the modified material further comprises a base coat, a color coat, a midcoat, and/or a finishing coat. 
     
     
         9 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 1 , wherein the modified material further comprises aqueous polyether polyurethanes, solvent-borne polyether/polyester, aqueous acrylics, styrene butadiene rubber, nitrocellulose lacquers and water emulsions, cellulose acetate butyrate lacquers and water emulsions, shellac, epoxy, polyvinyl chloride, oils, waxes, silicones, and/or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The electrically-conductive material of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive agent is loaded onto a plurality of fibers disposed within the leather or leather-like material. 
     
     
         11 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of fibers in the leather or leather-like material comprise a fiber chain. 
     
     
         12 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 11 , wherein the at least some of the plurality of fibers comprising the fiber chain overlap in such a manner that the modified material can withstand tensile, compressive, or shear strains without suffering significant loss of the electrical conductivity in the modified material. 
     
     
         13 . The electrically-conductive modified material of  claim 11 , wherein the fiber chain has a length of at least 100 nanometers. 
     
     
         14 . A method for modifying a leather or leather-like material to be electrically-conductive, the method comprising:
 providing a leather or leather-like material, wherein the leather or leather-like material comprises a plurality of voids therewithin; and   providing an electrically conductive material in at least a portion of the plurality of voids within the leather or leather-like material at a sufficient concentration to provide electrical conductivity in the modified leather or leather-like material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the modified leather or leather-like material has a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 6  ohm-cm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the modified leather or leather-like material retains a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 5  ohm-cm after the modified leather or leather-like material is in its finished form. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least some of the electrically conductive material comprises a fiber chain. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least some of the electrically conductive material comprising the fiber chain overlaps in such a manner that the modified leather or leather-like material can withstand tensile, compressive, or shear strains without suffering significant loss of the electrical conductivity in the modified leather or leather-like material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fiber chain has a length of at least 100 nanometers. 
     
     
         20 . An electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 providing a leather or leather-like material, wherein the leather or leather-like material comprises a plurality of voids therewithin; and   providing an electrically conductive material in at least a portion of the plurality of voids within the leather or leather-like material at a sufficient concentration to provide electrical conductivity in the modified leather or leather-like material.   
     
     
         21 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of  claim 20 , wherein the modified leather or leather-like material has a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 6  ohm-cm. 
     
     
         22 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of  claim 21 , wherein the modified leather or leather-like material retains a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 5  ohm-cm after the modified leather or leather-like material is in its finished form. 
     
     
         23 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of  claim 20 , wherein at least some of the electrically conductive material comprises a fiber chain. 
     
     
         24 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of  claim 23 , wherein the at least some of the electrically conductive material comprising the fiber chain overlaps in such a manner that the modified leather or leather-like material can withstand tensile, compressive, or shear strains without suffering significant loss of the electrical conductivity in the modified leather or leather-like material. 
     
     
         25 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of  claim 23 , wherein the fiber chain has a length of at least 100 nanometers.