Abstract: A blanket system having a blanket with at least one strip of conductive fibers coupled to a power source for providing heat to vital aspects of a person. The blanket system may include a blanket with one or more conductive strips formed from metal coated filaments, such as silver coated filaments, for effectively converting electricity to heat and delivering that heat to a person suffering from hypothermia or other needs. The blanket may be coupled to a portable power source enabling the blanket system to be used by hikers, hunters, other outdoorsman, sports fans and by others in other applications. The metal coated filaments are capable of conducting electricity yet retain the flexibility of an uncoated filaments. Such filaments enable a blanket to be very flexible, launderable, and comfortable to a user.

Abstract: Provided are methods of preparing an electrically conductive polymeric foam. The methods include the following steps: (a) contacting a polymeric foam with a surfactant solution; (b) contacting the polymeric foam with a sensitizing solution; (c) contacting the polymeric foam with an activation solution; and (d) forming at least one metallic layer on the polymeric foam with an electroless plating process. Also provided are electrically conductive polymeric foams formed by such methods. The present methods and foams have particular applicability to the manufacture of EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding devices.