Durable Fe3O4/PPY Particle Flow Spun Textile for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Joule Heating

Metallic Materials Polymer Chemistry Organic Polymeric Materials Chemistry Materials Science Materials Chemistry
Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Joule Heating Functional Textiles Particle Flow Spinning Durability

Academic Background

With the widespread use of electronic devices, the negative impacts of electromagnetic interference (EMI) on human health and device lifespan have become increasingly significant. Traditional metal-based electromagnetic shielding materials, while highly conductive, suffer from rigidity and poor processability, making them unsuitable for wearable devices. Therefore, the development of flexible, durable, and customizable electromagnetic shielding materials has become a research hotspot. Conductive polymers such as polypyrrole (PPy) are considered ideal electromagnetic shielding materials due to their good conductivity, thermal stability, and low toxicity. However, existing electromagnetic shielding materials face bottlenecks in terms of durability and large-scale production, hindering their industrial application. This study aims to address these issues by using a novel particle flow spinning technique to fabricate a scalable Fe3O4/PPy composite textile material that combines electromagnetic shielding and Joule heating functionalities.

Source of the Paper

The paper was co-authored by Jiaxin Liu, Shuo Qi, Hongshan Wang, and others, with contributions from institutions such as Wuhan Textile University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The paper was published on October 30, 2024, in the journal Advanced Fiber Materials, with the DOI 10.1007/s42765-024-00498-2.

Research Process

1. Material Preparation

The study first prepared Fe3O4/PPy composite cotton strips as the electromagnetic shielding functional layer. The specific steps are as follows:
- Cotton Strip Pretreatment: The cotton strips were immersed in a dopamine solution for surface treatment, forming a polydopamine (PDA) coating to enhance the adhesion of subsequent PPy.
- PPy Coating: Through in-situ polymerization, pyrrole monomers were polymerized on the surface of the cotton strips in the presence of FeCl3 as an oxidant, forming a PPy coating.
- Fe3O4 Coating: Fe3O4 particles were mixed with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) solution and uniformly sprayed onto the PPy coating to enhance electromagnetic wave absorption.

2. Protective Layer Preparation

To improve the durability of the material, the research team designed PVB/PP composite strips as the protective layer. Using electrospinning technology, PVB nanofiber membranes were deposited onto PP strips to form the protective layer. Experiments compared the effects of different PVB concentrations and voltages on fiber morphology, ultimately determining the optimal process parameters.

3. Preparation of Yarns via Particle Flow Spinning

The study employed particle flow spinning technology to combine Fe3O4/PPy composite cotton strips with PVB/PP protective layers, forming a three-layer structured yarn. The specific steps include:
- Yarn Structure Design: The Fe3O4/PPy cotton strip was sandwiched between two PVB/PP strips to form a “sandwich” structure.
- Spinning Process: The three-layer structure was twisted into yarn using a spinning machine, ensuring that the functional layer was tightly wrapped by the protective layer, forming a core-sheath structure to enhance durability.

4. Fabric Weaving

The prepared yarns were woven into fabric using an industrial loom, with a warp and weft density of 110 ends/10 cm and 40 picks/10 cm. The electromagnetic shielding and Joule heating performance of the fabric were tested through a series of experiments.

Main Results

1. Material Characterization

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that the Fe3O4/PPy coating uniformly covered the surface of the cotton fibers, significantly improving the conductivity and magnetic properties of the cotton strips. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses confirmed the presence of PPy and Fe3O4.

2. Electromagnetic Shielding Performance

The fabric achieved an electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SE) of 47 dB in the X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz). Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations verified that the multilayer structure synergistically enhanced the reflection and absorption of electromagnetic waves, significantly improving shielding performance.

3. Durability Testing

After 50 washing cycles and 465 abrasion cycles, the fabric’s electromagnetic shielding effectiveness decreased by less than 10%, demonstrating excellent durability. The addition of the protective layer effectively prevented the loss of functional materials.

4. Joule Heating Performance

The fabric rapidly heated up to 105°C within 10 seconds under a 3 V voltage, exhibiting efficient Joule heating performance. Experiments showed that the fabric’s temperature had a linear relationship with the square of the voltage, consistent with Ohm’s law.

Conclusions and Significance

The study successfully fabricated a multilayer composite textile material with both electromagnetic shielding and Joule heating functionalities using particle flow spinning technology. Its innovations include:
- Scalable Production: Particle flow spinning technology enables the large-scale production of functional yarns, offering prospects for industrial applications.
- Multifunctionality: The material not only exhibits excellent electromagnetic shielding performance but also enables temperature regulation, making it suitable for daily, military, and aerospace applications.
- Durability: The core-sheath structural design ensures stable performance even after multiple washes and abrasion tests.

This study provides a cost-effective technical pathway for developing multifunctional and durable electromagnetic shielding textiles, with significant scientific and application value.

Research Highlights

  • Technological Innovation: Particle flow spinning technology was applied for the first time in the preparation of electromagnetic shielding textile materials, addressing the challenges of large-scale production with traditional methods.
  • Multifunctional Integration: The material simultaneously possesses electromagnetic shielding and Joule heating functionalities, meeting the multifunctional needs of wearable devices.
  • Outstanding Performance: The fabric demonstrates excellent electromagnetic shielding effectiveness and durability, breaking through the performance limitations of existing materials.

Other Valuable Information

The research team also demonstrated the material’s electromagnetic shielding effectiveness in practical applications through simulation experiments, such as shielding LED bulbs and mobile phone signals, further validating its practical application potential.