Research for Civil Security

8 „SmaRt ClOthES“LUMITEXDevelopment of textiles with electroluminescent properties for safety clothing and technicalapplicationsSupport for night-time operations: specially equipped high-visibility clothing and technical equipment (source: Getty)motivationIn traffic system applications, conventional safetyand high-visibility clothing relies on fluorescenceand only works in the presence of light. In completedarkness, high-visibility clothing does not performits function and additional information such as symbols,text or warning messages cannot be transmitted.Electroluminescing layers that emit light whensubjected to an electrical voltage make it possible toproduce innovative and intelligent high-visibilityclothing that also functions reliably in completedarkness.Innovations and applicationsNew textile-based optical component developmentscomprise the basic innovations of the project.The application potential ranges from safety clothingfor road workers and police to active protectivesuits for fire brigades. Textiles for a large variety ofother applications are also feasible, however, e.g.Project description and goalsThis project aims to develop and realize possibilitiesfor the flexible manufacture of intelligently switchablelight effects on textiles. To this end, low-ohm,electrically conductive pastes will be developed andmade available for printing interdigital structuresas electrodes designed to generate luminescence effects.The project will also provide especially brightluminescing pastes for the industrial printing oflight-emitting textiles. In addition to this, luminescingfilaments will be developed, which will beused to produce textiles with suitable luminescentsurface characteristics.Examples of electroluminescence (source: ITCF)