Electrothermal Modeling and Analysis of Polypyrrole-Coated Wearable E-Textiles

The inhomogeneity of the resistance conducting polypyrrole-coated nylon–Lycra and polyester (PET) fabrics its effects on surface temperature were investigated through a systematic experimental numerical work including optimization coating conditions to determine lowest resistivity conductive establish correlation between fabrication efficiency uniformity Joule heating in textiles. For this purpose, plasma pre-treatment molar concentration analysis dopant anthraquinone sulfonic acid (AQSA), oxidant ferric chloride, monomer pyrrole was carried out sample with electrical for generating heat model experiments using finite element modeling (FEM). Both PET nylon-Lycra underwent atmospheric treatment functionalize fabric improve binding polymer obtain coatings reduced resistance. compared terms average both treated untreated samples. induced deep black lower Then, heat-generating conducted polypyrrole (PPy) coated variable power supply study distribution maximum value temperature. joule developed predict via analysis. based measured at different zones fabrics. It shown that, when backed neoprene insulation, it would up quicker more evenly. PPy-PET used 190 Ω, reading 43 °C recorded. results exhibited good agreement thermal camera data.