Flexible Electrothermal Laminate Films Based on Tannic\nAcid-Modified Carbon Nanotube/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composite

Abstract

Carbon nanomaterials are ideal fillers\nin composites for electrothermal\napplications due to their ultrahigh electrical conductivity, thermal\nconductivity, and excellent mechanical property. In this study, high-performance\nelectrothermal laminate films were prepared by a layer-by-layer process,\nwhich used tannic acid-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes\nas filler and thermoplastic polyurethane as substrate. The prepared\nelectrothermal laminate films exhibit excellent mechanical property,\nelectrical heating property, and high electrothermal performance,\nwhich can reach steady-state temperature in about 120 s. Additionally,\nthe maximum steady-state temperature can reach ∼150 °C\nat 20 V. During 10 different cycles of experiments and 5 h aging time,\nno significant change in temperature was observed. Moreover, from\nthe results, it is clear that the performance of the samples is related\nto the amount of filler added and the applied voltage, and we can\nprecisely control the sample performance by regulating the amount\nof filler addition and applied voltage. We believe that these electrothermal\nlaminate films could be widely used in wearable heating cotton fabric,\ncontrollable electric heating module, floor heating, and deicing devices.