This fiber can be washed and dyed
A team of Chinese scientists has developed a yarn fiber with exceptional thermal insulation inspired by polar bear fur, Xinhua reports. According to a study published in the journal Science, this encapsulated airgel fiber is washable, dyeable, durable and can be used in modern textiles.
Airgel fibers generally lack the strength and stretch needed to be woven into fabrics and lose their insulating properties in wet or humid conditions. However, researchers at Zhejiang University took inspiration from polar bears’ unique fur, which effectively keeps them warm and dry. According to the study, fur hairs have a porous core enclosed within the dense structure of the sheath.
By mimicking the structure of the core and sheath of bear hair, the researchers created a tough airgel fiber with lamellar pores that effectively traps infrared radiation near the skin and retains its mechanical strength, making it suitable for knitting or weaving.
According to the study, the fiber retains its thermal insulation properties with minimal change even after 10,000 repeated stretching cycles at 100 percent loading. The research team tested the fiber in a thin sweater, which, despite being about one-fifth the thickness of a down jacket, has thermal insulation properties comparable to those of a thick jacket.
According to the researchers, this “thinned” clothing design provides rich opportunities for the development of multifunctional airgel fibers and textiles in the future.
Illustrative Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-photography-of-white-polar-bear-53425/
