Electrically conductive textile element and method of producing same

Abstract

A method of producing an electrically conductive textile element that includes the steps of modifying a surface of a textile element with a negatively-charged polyelectrolyte; and coating the modified surface of the textile element with metal particles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing an electrically conductive textile including the steps of:
 silanising a surface of the textile to provide a silanised surface;   grafting a negatively-charged polyelectrolyte onto the silanised surface by in-situ free radical polymerisation;   adding metal ions into the polyelectrolyte by ion exchange;   reducing the metal ions to elemental metal; and   coating the textile with metal particles.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the negatively-charged polyelectrolyte includes poly(methacrylic acid) or a salt thereof, or poly(acrylic acid) or a salt thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the negatively-charged polyelectrolyte includes poly(methacrylic acid) sodium salt, or poly(acrylic acid) sodium salt. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal ions are copper ions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coating the textile with metal particles is performed by electroless metal deposition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal particles are nickel or copper. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textile includes yarn or fibers made of cotton, nylon, silk or polyester. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the textile includes cotton yarn or fibers.