Highly effective E-heating performance of nickel coated carbon fiber and its composites for de-icing application

Electrical conductivities and temperature generations are related closely for carbon fiber composites under electric fields. Here we reported the current conductivity and electro-thermal behavior of carbon fiber reinforced 3D orthogonal woven structure composites (3DOWCs) along different current directions. The influence of woven architectures and contacts on electrical and thermal behaviors was analyzed with finite element analysis (FEA) model. We found that the conductivity was the highest along warp direction and the lowest along Z-binder direction. The conductivity increased with the increase of in-plane angles. The overall conductivity of Z-binder direction was affected by weft/Z-binder yarn interface. In-plane angle directions, the warp/weft interfacial conductivity affected overall conductivities, which had the largest temperature contribution. The maximum current density and temperature of warp yarns decreased with the increase of in-plane angles. The proportion of weft yarns in current density and temperature rise increased with the increase of in-plane angles.