Overview
IEC TR 62899-250:2016 is a Technical Report from IEC TC 119 (Printed electronics) that surveys the material technologies required for printed electronics used in wearable smart devices (WSDs). Rather than normative requirements, this TR maps the emerging wearable electronics field, identifies material and evaluation gaps, and recommends areas for future standardization to support market growth for WSD technology.
Key topics
- WSD categories - accessory type, textile‑integrated, skin‑patchable and body‑implantable devices, with examples such as bracelets, eyewear, smart textiles, skin patches and implantables.
- Material technology needs - emphasis on materials that enable:
- large deformation and stretchable electronic circuits (for textiles and flexible wearables)
- ultra‑thin electronic devices (for skin‑conformal patches and unobtrusive wearables)
- 3D‑shaped formed and wired technologies (for conformal and body‑shaped assemblies)
- biocompatible and salt/sweat‑resistant materials (for direct skin contact and long‑term wear)
- Durability and reliability - considerations for repeated mechanical stress, washing/drying (textiles) and exposure to body secretions.
- Functional requirements - miniaturization, light weight, low power consumption and flexible display integration.
- Standardization and evaluation gaps - need for new evaluation and test methods specific to wearable use environments (mechanical deformation, biological exposure, thin‑film performance).
Applications
This TR is relevant to the design, development and assessment of:
- Consumer wearables (fitness bands, smart jewelry, AR eyewear)
- Smart textiles and e‑garments (sensorized clothing, sportswear)
- Medical skin patches and bio‑monitoring wearables
- Future implantable printed electronic devices (research and early‑stage medical devices)
Practical uses include guiding material selection (stretchable inks, encapsulants, substrates), informing design for manufacturing (printed additive processes), and identifying testing needs for durability and biocompatibility.
Who should use this document
- Printed electronics manufacturers and material suppliers
- Wearable product designers and R&D teams
- Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies
- Standards developers and regulatory stakeholders
- Medical device and textile industry engineers exploring printed wearable solutions
Related standards and organizations
The TR maps wearable PE topics to existing technical committees and industry groups (examples cited): IEC TC 47, TC 40, TC 51 WG9, TC 91, IEC TC 100, IEC TC 21, and industry consortia such as IPC / JPCA / SEMI. IEC TR 62899‑250 serves as a starting point for TC 119 to prioritize formal standardization projects in printed electronics for wearables.
Keywords: IEC TR 62899-250, printed electronics, wearable smart devices, wearable electronics standards, stretchable electronics, ultra-thin electronics, biocompatible materials, textile-integrated electronics.