Fabrication of carbon fiber/cement composites with controllable precise patterned structures via facile computerized embroidery

Carbon fibers exhibit good electrothermal performance; however, they break easily during the weaving process. This study used a facile computerized embroidery process to design and fabricate carbon fibers with controllable and precise patterned structures. The obtained carbon fiber/cement composites (CFCs) exhibited excellent electrothermal performance (100 ℃ under 30 V), low energy consumption (400 mW/℃), and homogeneous heat distribution with a unique heating element (carbon fibers) structure. The difference between the maximum and average surface temperatures improved, and the surface heat distributions of the CFCs under different structures were determined using a finite element simulation. CFCs with different complex heat element structures were successfully fabricated, and the mechanism regulating the heat distribution of the CFCs was revealed. Embroidery technology provides a novel strategy for the fabrication of carbon fiber/cement composite materials with a controllable carbon fiber structure, thereby significantly broadening the application of cement composites for electrothermal applications.