Hybrid stretchable circuits on silicone substrate

When rigid and stretchable components are integrated onto a single elastic carrier substrate, large strain heterogeneities appear in the vicinity of the deformable-non-deformable interfaces. In this paper, we report on a generic approach to manufacture hybrid stretchable circuits where commercial electronic components can be mounted on a stretchable circuit board. Similar to printed circuit board development, the components are electrically bonded on the elastic substrate and interconnected with stretchable electrical traces. The substrate-a silicone matrix carrying concentric rigid disks-ensures both the circuit elasticity and the mechanical integrity of the most fragile materials. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.