Multifunctional carbon fiber textile with integrated thermal insulation and electrothermal properties

The development of advanced heating materials for active thermal management in aircraft cabin flooring and automotive seats demands exceptional safety, superior thermal comfort, and highly efficient electrothermal conversion. This work addresses these needs via tailored fiber placement of carbon fiber on a glass fiber substrate, creating electrothermal textiles featuring linear, sinusoidal, and hemispherical configurations for differentiated thermal management. A methyl vinyl silicone rubber-based flame-retardant/insulating coating incorporating fumed silica, aluminium hydroxide, and zinc borate was developed for fabric treatment. It confers good hydrophobicity, a self-extinguishing capability, and high thermal insulation. The coating exhibited exceptional abrasion resistance while maintaining full functionality. Electrothermal performance was effectively tuned through voltage and geometric design, achieving 62.75°C with hemispherical patterning at 20 V. Successful integration with three practical substrates demonstrated rapid and uniform heating, confirming its potential for practical thermal management systems. This work provides a novel strategy for developing surface-active thermal management materials that combine efficient heating, high safety, and excellent comfort.