Flexible heating fabrics with temperature perception based on fine copper wire and fusible interlining fabrics

Abstract

This paper presented a novel and facile method for fabricating flexible heating fabrics with temperature perception (FHF-TP), a temperature-sensitive fine copper was integrated into two pieces of flexible fusible interlining fabrics (FFIFs) by a simple thermal bonding method. FHF-TPs were characterized by performing a series of experiments, such as the research on the principle of temperature perception, infrared thermal performance testing, power consumption testing and mechanical properties testing and so on. The results showed the temperature of the FHF-TP was linear correlative strongly with resistance, loaded voltage and power consumption of that. By extracting and analyzing the infrared temperature images on the surface of the FHF-TPs, it was found that reducing the spacing of copper wires and the loaded voltage, improving the thermal conductivity of the bonding fabric can not only increase the heating temperature and heating rate, but also diminish the temperature difference so that the FHF-TPs were kept at a fairly even temperature. And the preset equilibrium temperature of the FHF-TPs is a significant linear correlative with the power consumption of those in the cold environment by simulating the heating in the garments. After performing 240 h ageing at 80 and 100 °C and washing for 30 times, the mechanical properties of all FHF-TP samples have no obvious change. FHF-TPs with stable electrical properties, thermal performance and mechanical properties will have wide application prospects in active warming garments field.