Polyaramid Conductive Paper for Joule Heating and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Abstract

Polyaramid fibers (AFs), known for their exceptional tensile strength and modulus, gain their robust mechanical properties from extensive hydrogen bonding, which enhances interface bonding and stress transmission. When combined with conductive fillers, these fibers can form composite sheets with both strong mechanical and electrical performance. This study presents a lightweight, flexible, and conductive polyaramid paper (Cu-Kevlar) that integrates a hierarchical polyaramid fiber microstructure with copper nanoplate fillers. The composite achieved high electrical conductivity (1.14 MS/m) and tensile strength (7.51 MPa). A stretchable paper heater, fabricated using a kirigami design, demonstrated rapid heating to 80 °C within 60 s at an operating voltage of 1.5 V, showing its potential for low-power thermal applications. Additionally, the material provides effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding with a shielding effectiveness of 70.59 dB at 8 GHz. This work offers a versatile approach to creating lightweight, flexible, and conductive paper with efficient joule heating and EMI shielding capabilities, enabling applications in flexible electronics, thermal management, and protective shielding.