IPC Releases E-Textiles Standard IPC-8921

IPC-8921 establishes classifications and designations for woven and knitted e-textiles integrated with e-fibers, e-yarns and e-wires. It also standardizes key characteristics and durability testing for these materials as well as the industry test methods to be used to test against those characteristics. 

Key characteristics:

• electrical resistance
• electromagnetic immunity
• thermal conductivity
• coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)
• specific heat capacity
• thermal shock resistance
• out-gassing
• glass transition temperature (Tg)
• melting point.

IPC-8921 also includes 20 new terms and definitions for e-textiles and establishes quality assurance provisions and test frequencies for specific characteristics.

Incorporating these designations, characteristics, test method requirements and testing frequencies provides the e-textiles industry a level playing field. Product designers and manufacturers now have a consensus industry standard for gathering comparative data between different materials and suppliers to procure the woven and knitted e-textiles that will meet their needs.

For more information on E-Textiles committees contact ChrisJorgensen@ipc.org