Characteristics of Electrical Heating Elements Coated with Graphene Nanocomposite on Polyester Fabric: Effect of Different Graphene Contents and Annealing Temperatures

Abstract

This paper reports the fabrication of electrical heating elements based on the graphene/waterborne polyurethane (WPU) composite coated on polyester fabric with toughness like that of artificial leather. Samples were prepared with 0, 4, 8, and 16 wt% of graphene by using the knife edge method, and then, the samples were annealed from 100 oC to 160 °C. The graphene content had a large effect on the electrical and electrical heating properties. The surface resistivity was decreased by approximately 6 orders of magnitude with an increase from 0 wt% to 16 wt% graphene/WPU composite fabric. The electric heating properties were also improved, as indicated by the percolation threshold. Samples with various graphene contents were annealed, and it was found that the electrical and electrical heating properties were improved, and the most enhanced properties were obtained when the samples were annealed at 120 °C. The initial modulus and tensile strength were increased in comparison with those of 0 wt% and 16 wt% graphene/WPU composite coated on fabrics, but the elongation at break value was slightly decreased with an increasing graphene content. When the samples were annealed, initial modulus and tensile strength of samples were improved at 120 °C and 140 °C, and they were slightly decreased at 160 °C. However, the elongation at break showed an opposite tendency to the tensile strength. With the increase in content of graphene and annealing at 120 °C and 140 °C, the samples were more stiff and tough, and at 160 °C, the samples were softer. Therefore, graphene/WPU composite coated on polyester fabric by use of the annealing process may have applications in electrical heating elements due to its excellent heating performance and toughness like that of artificial leather.