Flexible nanocomposite electrothermal films based on carbon nanotubes and waterborne polyurethane with high reliability, stretchability and low-temperature performance for wind turbine blade deicing

Since the "net-zero " goal was proposed, wind power has been developed rapidly in recent years. Due to its largescale installations in cold regions, the icing of wind turbine blades is currently one of the main limitations for efficient operation. In response to this issue, a highly reliable, flexible, stretchable, and lightweight in-situ deicing heating system based on the CNT/WPU nanocomposite films was developed. The CNT/WPU thin films were fabricated by the roll-to-roll gap-coating and hot-pressing process leading to as-prepared CNT/WPU film heaters have so outstanding reliability that they can withstand 100,000 times 240 bending with the resistance fluctuation of 3.17 %, and the repeated stretching of 2.0 % strain in the length direction without any impact on their temperature distribution, and even the weak impact with 10 % strain. The films may have promising potential applications in various curved surface heating with strict requirements on reliability in the future.