A high-strength, conductive aramid-based luminescent rope for low-visibility rescue operations

Abstract

Rescue ropes with visualized feedback and interactive function are promising in emergency rescue operations, whose performance directly impacts rescue efficiency and personnel safety. However, alternating current electroluminescence fibers (ACEFs) fail to withstand harsh environments due to the complex and fragile structure. Fortunately, robust light-emitting could benefit from rope helical structure combined with high strength characteristic of aramid. Herein, we designed a conductive aramid-based high-strength wrapped electroluminescent fibers (HWELFs) via dipcoating and wrapping process. And then, a high-strength luminescent rope (HSLR) was fabricated with multi-axis braided rope technology, into which HWELFs were intergrated. This newly devised conductive aramid-based core electrode and wrapped conductive Nylon-based electrode structure extends the functionalities of the ACEFs by overcoming the fragile and high voltage driving bottlenecks. The prepared HWELFs can achieve a luminance of 39.957 cd m⁻² at a voltage of 200 V, while the luminescent intensity is still 83 % under the condition of 30 N stretching. The HSLR woven from the HWELFs inherits the excellent luminescent performance and exhibits outstanding visibility and luminescent stability in underwater environments, confirming the significant potential in complex rescue scenarios. Therefore, the rope provides an effective solution for precise positioning and path guidance in low-visibility rescue scenarios, laying the foundation for the future design of intelligent rescue ropes.