Heated textiles and methods of making the same
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a composite heating element suitable for heating an article when activated by a power source. The composite heating element comprises first and second dielectric layers each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The composite heating element further comprises a conductive layer formed from at least one conductive ink composition comprising a plastisol component and a conductive component. The conductive layer is disposed between the inner surfaces of the first and second dielectric layers and defines a circuit. The composite heating element further comprises an adhesive layer coupled at least one of the outer surfaces of the first and second dielectric layers opposite the conductive layer.
1. A method of forming a composite heating element on a transfer sheet, the method comprising the steps of:
applying a first dielectric composition onto the transfer sheet to form a first dielectric layer;
applying a conductive ink composition comprising a conductive component onto the first dielectric layer to form a conductive ink layer;
applying a second dielectric composition onto the conductive ink layer to form a second dielectric layer; and
applying an adhesive composition onto the second dielectric layer to form an adhesive layer.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein applying is further defined as printing.
3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the first and second dielectric compositions comprises a plastisol.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the adhesive composition comprises a plastisol.
5. A method of decreasing resistance of a composite heating element comprising a first dielectric layer defining an outer edge and having an inner surface and an outer surface, a second dielectric layer spaced from the first dielectric layer and defining an outer edge and having an inner surface and an outer surface, a conductive layer formed from at least one conductive ink composition comprising a plastisol component and a conductive component with the conductive layer disposed between the inner surfaces of the first and second dielectric layers and defining a circuit having a first terminal end and a second terminal end, and an adhesive layer coupled to at least one of the first and second dielectric layers opposite the conductive layer, said method comprising the steps of:
applying at least one of pressure and heat to the composite heating element for a period of time; and
simultaneously separating the plastisol component and the conductive component of the at least one conductive ink composition to decrease resistance of the conductive layer.