GRAPHITE-FLAKE CARBON-BLACK-REINFORCED POLYSTYRENE-MATRIX COMPOSITE FILMS DEPOSITED ON GLASS-FIBER WOVEN FABRICS AS PLANE HEATERS

摘要

Graphite-flake carbon-black/polystyrene composite films as plane heaters are promising materials since they are smarter than the traditional heating elements. In the present study, we are concerned mainly with the production, characterization and industrial application of graphite-flake carbon-black-reinforced polystyrene-matrix composite films deposited on glass-fiber woven fabrics as plane heaters. Within this scope, graphite flakes and carbon-black powders were dispersed in polystyrene gel and deposited on glass-fiber woven fabrics with different weight ratios. Subsequently, the films were dried at 60 °C for 30 min in the air. Structural and surface properties of the produced films were characterized with XRD and SEM, respectively. Electrical and heating properties were determined with a hand-made experimental setup containing a multimeter and a thermocouple. It was found that uniform and partially ordered films depending on the weight ratio and percolation threshold were obtained as plane heaters. Planar heating of up to 60 °C was observed with a 24-V DC power supply.