Abstract:
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foam beads (E-TPU) are a lightweight, highly elastic, closed-cell foam material. A supercritical foaming process provides this material with excellent mechanical properties. However, its functional applications face challenges. In this study, a multifunctional E-TPU@Ag composite foam material was successfully prepared. A spray/mold pressing composite process was used. The electromagnetic shielding, pressure sensing, and Joule heating performance of the composite were systematically investigated. Results show that the material achieves a high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of 61.2 dB. This performance requires only 2wt% conductive filler. Pressure sensing tests demonstrate a fast response time of 30 ms and a sensitivity of 0.18 kPa
−1. In the Joule heating experiment, the composite reaches a stable temperature increase of 78.8℃. This occurs under a 3 V driving voltage and lasts for 150 s. This work provides a feasible strategy for developing multifunctional polymer foam materials.