Project Code: OCI-01-0247-FEDER-045229

Acronym: 2FLight

Project Title: Development of films, threads, or fibers with the ability to emit light and change color

Project Type: SI R&D Individual

Duration (months): 26

Start Date: 01/01/2020

End Date: 28/02/2022

Promoter: Castros Iluminações Festivas S.A.

Partner: CeNTI – Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart, Functional and Technical Materials

The 2FLight project, promoted by Castros, is co-financed by Portugal 2020 and has CeNTI – Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart, Functional and Technical Materials – as its scientific partner.
This R&D project aims primarily to develop films, threads, or fibers capable of emitting light and changing color, based on different technologies depending on the type of surface. The ultimate goal is to create surfaces where these elements can be applied and/or embedded.

The first results have already been presented internationally to the scientific community at the ICSTR Lisbon International Conference on Science & Technology Research, held online on December 24, 2021, under the theme Exploring Innovative Solutions for Light Integration in Textiles. More recently, several demonstrators were showcased at Modtíssimo 2022, the oldest textile fair on the Iberian Peninsula, held at Exponor on February 16 and 17, 2022. One of the technologies developed in the project, the Electroluminescent Fiber, was immediately selected as a finalist for the next edition of the iTechStyle Awards.

In the coming weeks, an article titled Exploring Innovative Scale-Up Solutions for Light Integration in Textiles Using Electroluminescent Fibers, also resulting from this project, will be published in MATTER: International Journal of Science and Technology.

Regarding demonstrators, nine functional prototypes were developed:

ELECTROLUMINESCENT FIBERS
Through this development line, we were able to produce an electroluminescent thread suitable for conventional textile processes (such as knitting, embroidery, weaving, among others).

LED INTEGRATION
The threads developed in this research line are distinguished by the miniaturization of LED construction, the decorative multicolor lighting effects, the uniformity and dynamics of the light effects, all combined in an ultra-compact and flexible unit.

LIGHT GUIDE
The flexible surfaces obtained in this development line are capable of conducting light uniformly through physical phenomena such as reflection and light diffusion.

Find out more at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8EvhvU5dyE