Abstract:
The printing and coating of electroactive inks onto fabric surfaces for the manufacture of personal protective equipment has attracted widespread attention. In this study, MXene ink was modified and doped with the gallic acid (GA) and the polyaniline (PANI) to formulate MXene-based composite inks with tunable rheological properties. Screen printing was then used to produce coated fabrics with excellent electrical conductivity. Methods for controlling ink rheology were investigated, the conductivity and performance stability of printed fabrics were analyzed, and the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and infrared (IR) shielding properties of conductive fabrics were evaluated. The experimental results show that when 0.25 mg/mL of GA and 22.5 mg of PANI are added to 3 mL of 20 mg/mL MXene ink, the viscosity of the composite ink can reach 493,000 mPa·s; After screen printing, the fabric has a resistance as low as 29.81 Ω and exhibits stable electrical conductivity under high-temperature conditions and during natural storage; In the X-band range, the EMI SE
T value of the coated fabric exceeds 20 dB, shielding more than 99.0% of electromagnetic waves; When heated to 100℃, the temperature difference between the surface of the coated fabric and that of the original fabric is nearly 25℃, with the potential for IR thermal camouflage. This study provides a new approach to developing a new type of conductive-coated protective fabric.