Aramid-based electric heating films by incorporating carbon black

Carbon-filler-filled polymer composite (CPC) films have become an important type of electric heating material. However, the development and application of CPC films are usually limited by the poor stability of polymer matrix, high cost of carbon fillers, or environmentally unfriendly process. Herein, we report a facile preparation of aramid-based electric heating films by aqueous mixing of commercially-available polymerization-induced aramid nanofiber (PANF) hydrogel and low-cost superconductive carbon black (SCB), followed by coating with heterocyclic aramid (HA) as an insulating layer to ensure safety and long-term use. The HA-PANF/SCB films show remarkable electric heating performance with high heating and cooling rates, rapid response to the change in voltage, good long-term stability, and excellent heating recyclability. The saturated temperature can be adjusted over a wide range (43–197 °C) using a low voltage below 36 V. Furthermore, the HA-PANF/SCB films also have superior flexibility, good thermal stability and self-extinguishing ability. Two sets of tests, finger warming using a power bank as the voltage supply and deicing, demonstrate that the HA-PANF/SCB electric heating films have broad prospects in a wide range of application fields.