Investigation of processing factors affecting flexible heating wire by coating polyester yarns with carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A method for preparing a flexible heating wire coated with carbon nanotubes on a surface of a polyester yarn is proposed in view of the problems of poor flexibility and water washing resistance of the existing heating wire. Based on the flexible heating wire forming system, the orthogonal test method was used to study the effects of process parameters such as solution concentration and polymer content on the formation of flexible heating wire; the prepared heating wire was subjected to resistance measurement, microscopic morphology observation, heating and washing resistance tests. The results show that the optimal parameter parameters for the preparation of flexible hot wire is A3B3C2D2. In this combination, the polymer content is 15 g/L and the heating wire resistance is 180.5 Ω/cm. Moreover, the photomicrograph shows that the surface has a conductive layer composed of polymer and carbon nanotubes, which has no obvious protrusions and breaks; the surface of the parallel mesh structure can obtain a heating temperature of 52.2°C at a voltage of 12 V; the resistance of heating wire does not increase with latter washing after the first washing.