An illuminating yarn

A team from Manchester University’s William Lee Innovation Centre (WLIC) has developed prototype electroluminescent textile yarns that illuminate clothing in the dark.

Currently, high visibility products such as those worn by cyclists depend on external light sources to make them visible.

They can be ineffective in low light situations and require a strong light source from car headlights or street lighting to make them visible.

The latest WLIC development, made from electroluminescent (EL) yarns, allows the wearer to be permanently visible.

EL yarn emits light when it receives electrical power and its development has been based on thin film electroluminescent technology.

The yarn consists of an inner conductive core yarn, coated with electroluminescent ink and a protective transparent encapsulation, with an outer conductive yarn wrapped around it.

When the EL yarn is powered with an inverter the resultant electrical field between the inner and outer conductor causes the electroluminescent coating to emit light. The emission of light occurs between the contact points between the outer yarn and the inner yarn.