Enhancing Electrical Conductivity in Cellulosic Fabric: A Study of Bio-Based Coating Formulations

This study explores the development of electrically conductive bio-based textiles by investigating the fabrication and structural characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) coatings on viscose fabric (VF) using two bio-based binders. The research employs various analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, water contact angle (WCA) measurements, optical microscopy, air permeability tests, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical property evaluations, and electrical conductivity tests. Optimization of the coating process revealed that a binder concentration of 20 g L⁻¹ combined with six dip-dry cycles offered the optimal balance of conductivity, water contact angle (WCA), and coating uniformity. The study found distinct correlations between binder type and properties such as WCA, air permeability, surface coverage, and thermal stability. The incorporation of carbon-based materials significantly enhanced the electrical conductivity of the samples, with MWCNT-coated fabrics demonstrating higher conductivity compared to those coated with GNP. Furthermore, the inclusion of a hot-pressing step further improved the electrical conductivity. MWCNT-coated fabrics exhibited excellent electrical heating properties, generating temperatures up to 130 °C with a 10 V DC voltage. These findings advance the field of e-textiles, presenting straightforward, bio-based methods for creating highly conductive textiles with good mechanical properties and thermal stability.