Conductive Cotton Fabrics for Heat Generation Prepared by Mist Polymerization

Cotton fabrics were coated with conducting polypyrrole (PPy) by mist polymerization derived from aqueous solution of pyrrole (Py) with ferric chloride (FeCl3) as oxidant. The polymerization conditions, such as the reaction time and the concentrations of monomer and oxidant, were systematically investigated. The prepared PPy-coated fabrics could keep their temperature at about 24-44 degrees C when charged by a fixed DC voltage of 1-3 V. The results indicate that these PPy-coated fabrics can be used potentially as heating pads and integrated into the apparel to make the wearer warm enough using a portable battery. Furthermore, such fabrics are more comfortable than the conventional heating pads due to their flexibility and breathability.