Construction of protective layer on PET fabric by utilizing hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions for sensing, flame retardancy and thermal management properties

Multifunctional fabrics for thermal management are becoming increasingly essential in a wide range of application scenarios. However, existing thermal management fabrics exhibit insufficient performance and shortcomings in environmental tolerance. The main challenge lies in the interactions between multiple protective additives, which often lead to detrimental effects on functionality and mechanical properties. This study innovatively develops a multifunctional protective PET fabric (PET/APTES-PSA@Cu-2) by utilizing γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) and phosphorous acid (PSA) to incorporate copper particles into the fabric. This design not only achieves thermal management but also integrates sensing, fire safety, and multiple protective functions. The PET/APTES-PSA@Cu-2 fabric demonstrates excellent electrothermal performance at −60 °C, reaching a peak temperature of 22 °C at 0.4 V. At 422 °C, the fabric achieves a high-temperature insulation efficiency of 248 %. The fabric combines mechanical reinforcement and protective functions, including enhanced tensile strength, abrasion resistance, antibacterial properties, and room-temperature self-healing capabilities. It also exhibits excellent flame-retardant performance, with a 46.56 % reduction in peak heat release rate and a 70.17 % decrease in average effective heat of combustion. Notably, it significantly reduces the smoke toxicity of phosphorus-based flame-retardant PET fabrics (CO production is reduced by 132.43 %, aldehydes are nearly eliminated, and oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are significantly decreased). Additionally, PET/APTES-PSA@Cu-2 exhibits excellent sensing capabilities, effectively enabling joint health monitoring and thermotherapy. This study provides an effective approach for developing multifunctional protective fabrics with broad application prospects in fields such as firefighting, military equipment, aerospace, and high-performance sportswear.