MATERIAL FOR USE WITH A CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN
A modified material for use with a capacitive touch screen is described. The modified material comprises a material impregnated with a composition comprising either a non-metallic and/or a metallic conductive agent with a binder. A variety of materials are contemplated, including, but not limited to leather. Also described is an apparatus and method of providing a conductive glove is disclosed.
1 . An electrically-conductive modified material comprising:
a leather or leather-like material, wherein the leather or leather-like material comprises a plurality of voids therewithin;
an electrically conductive agent; and
a binder material;
wherein at least a portion of the leather or leather-like material is impregnated within the plurality of voids with the electrically conductive agent and the binder at a sufficient concentration to provide electrical conductivity in the modified material.
2 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 1 , wherein the modified material comprises at least about 30% electrically conductive agent.
3 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive agent is selected from the group consisting of: carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphite, PEDOT, silver, copper, gold, nickel, aluminum, indium, zinc, tin, and combinations thereof.
4 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive agent is substantially homogenously dispersed or suspended within the binder material.
5 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive agent is cured into the modified material.
6 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 1 , wherein the modified material has a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 6 ohm-cm.
7 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 6 , wherein the modified material retains a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 5 ohm-cm after the modified material is in its finished form.
8 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 1 , wherein the modified material further comprises a base coat, a color coat, a midcoat, and/or a finishing coat.
9 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 1 , wherein the modified material further comprises aqueous polyether polyurethanes, solvent-borne polyether/polyester, aqueous acrylics, styrene butadiene rubber, nitrocellulose lacquers and water emulsions, cellulose acetate butyrate lacquers and water emulsions, shellac, epoxy, polyvinyl chloride, oils, waxes, silicones, and/or combinations thereof.
10 . The electrically-conductive material of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive agent is loaded onto a plurality of fibers disposed within the leather or leather-like material.
11 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of fibers in the leather or leather-like material comprise a fiber chain.
12 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 11 , wherein the at least some of the plurality of fibers comprising the fiber chain overlap in such a manner that the modified material can withstand tensile, compressive, or shear strains without suffering significant loss of the electrical conductivity in the modified material.
13 . The electrically-conductive modified material of claim 11 , wherein the fiber chain has a length of at least 100 nanometers.
14 . A method for modifying a leather or leather-like material to be electrically-conductive, the method comprising:
providing a leather or leather-like material, wherein the leather or leather-like material comprises a plurality of voids therewithin; and
providing an electrically conductive material in at least a portion of the plurality of voids within the leather or leather-like material at a sufficient concentration to provide electrical conductivity in the modified leather or leather-like material.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the modified leather or leather-like material has a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 6 ohm-cm.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the modified leather or leather-like material retains a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 5 ohm-cm after the modified leather or leather-like material is in its finished form.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein at least some of the electrically conductive material comprises a fiber chain.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least some of the electrically conductive material comprising the fiber chain overlaps in such a manner that the modified leather or leather-like material can withstand tensile, compressive, or shear strains without suffering significant loss of the electrical conductivity in the modified leather or leather-like material.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the fiber chain has a length of at least 100 nanometers.
20 . An electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
providing a leather or leather-like material, wherein the leather or leather-like material comprises a plurality of voids therewithin; and
providing an electrically conductive material in at least a portion of the plurality of voids within the leather or leather-like material at a sufficient concentration to provide electrical conductivity in the modified leather or leather-like material.
21 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of claim 20 , wherein the modified leather or leather-like material has a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 6 ohm-cm.
22 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of claim 21 , wherein the modified leather or leather-like material retains a volume resistivity of less than about 1.0×10 5 ohm-cm after the modified leather or leather-like material is in its finished form.
23 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of claim 20 , wherein at least some of the electrically conductive material comprises a fiber chain.
24 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of claim 23 , wherein the at least some of the electrically conductive material comprising the fiber chain overlaps in such a manner that the modified leather or leather-like material can withstand tensile, compressive, or shear strains without suffering significant loss of the electrical conductivity in the modified leather or leather-like material.
25 . The electrically conductive modified leather or leather-like material of claim 23 , wherein the fiber chain has a length of at least 100 nanometers.