IPC Announces E-Textiles Standard IPC-8921

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IPC, the Association Connecting Electronics Industries,  has announced the release of the latest IPC-8921 e-textiles Standards - Requirements for Woven and Knitted Electronics Textiles (E-Textiles) Integrated with Conductive Fibers, Conductive Yarns and/or Wires. This is an international standard representing the collective knowledge of OEMs/Brands, EMS companies, electronic and product design teams, materials suppliers, academia, test laboratories, and designers.

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.

Developed through input from 140 members of the IPC D-72 Textiles Materials Subcommittee, IPC-8921 establishes classifications and designations for e-textiles integrated with e-fibers, e-yarns and e-wires and standardizes key characteristics, durability testing, and industry test methods. 

Key Characteristics Include: 

• 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 includes 20 new terms and definitions for e-textiles and will set quality assurance provisions and test frequency. It is the first baseline compilation that merges the textile industry and the electronic performance attributes in one document. When used as a benchmark of e-textile performance, products can be analyzed and compared for use in any application. Development expectations and outcomes can be shared between the user and seller for transparency.