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Technology Enhancement Programme
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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Conductive Fabric
This short film from the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP) is one of a series of clips which were produced to demonstrate the properties and use of a range of smart materials.
This fabric looks and feels like ordinary Lycra but is highly conductive. It can be cut into narrow strips to form conducting ‘wires’ or can be used as a soft compliant substitute for metal and foil in switches and sensors. Its conductivity depends on how tightly it is stretched; if you pull it, the resistance increases. In a thin strip the material warms up when current is passed through it, which provides the basis of a heated garment or product such as a hat or gloves.
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