Carbon filament yarn-based hybrid yarn for the heating of textile-reinforced concrete

In this study, the application of carbon filament yarn (CFY)-based conductive hybrid yarn as the heating element in a textile-reinforced concrete structure is reported. For this purpose, a hybrid yarn having a core-sheath structure (the core is made of carbon filament yarn and the sheath consists of a mixture of short glass and polypropylene fibres) is manufactured by DREF-2000 spinning technique and integrated into textile structure by tailored fibre placement method. Heat can be generated in the concrete structure by passing electric current through the conductive carbon filament yarn core of the hybrid yarn using the principle of resistive heating, where the sheath acts as the protection and isolation layer. From the initial investigations made on a small concrete specimen, important information is gathered and a large concrete slab with integrated conductive hybrid yarn is manufactured. The heat ability and the comfort level of the manufactured concrete slab are measured. The investigations have revealed the potential of using such hybrid yarn for a pointwise heating of the concrete surface for possible appliance in outdoor furniture.