Encapsulated Aerogel Fiber Mimicking the “Core–Shell” Structure of Polar Bear Hair for Thermal Insulation

Abstract

Designing and large-scale production of woven aerogel fibers with superior thermal insulation and multifunctionality to meet human demand for warm textiles is a major challenge. In recent research, an encapsulated aerogel fiber that mimics the structure of polar bear hair has exhibited superior thermal insulation performance and mechanical strength. This innovation disrupts the current state of thermal insulation textiles, addresses the brittleness issue of aerogel fibers, and significantly enhances the processability of products. This study lays the groundwork for manufacturing efficient and sustainable thermal insulation textiles, which have immense potential in areas such as military attire and spacesuits in extreme cold environments.

Keywords

Aerogel fiber / Polar bear hair / Thermal insulation textile

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(62175082); Multidisciplinary Research Support Program of Huazhong University of Science and Technology(2023JCYJ039); National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFB3805800)