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Researchers have created a novel type of fiber, taking inspiration from the design of polar bear fur. They claim that this fiber can be woven into a sweater to protect individuals from harsh temperatures.
According to researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the fiber is capable of being washed, long-lasting, and provides protection from the cold while being much thinner than traditional sweaters.
The journal Science published findings on Thursday indicating that aerogel, a type of extremely lightweight material, can offer excellent thermal insulation when used as a knittable fiber.
Animals living in extreme cold environments, such as the Arctic and the Antarctic, have evolved specialised furs that keep them warm and dry.
For example, the fur of a polar bear consists of a porous inner layer surrounded by a thick outer shell.
Research has demonstrated that the bear’s coat offers excellent heat retention and durability, while also remaining supple and flexible.
In the latest research, researchers replicated the core-shell design of polar bear fur.
A durable aerogel fiber named EAF was developed, featuring pores sealed by a flexible and elastic rubber coating.
The fiber produced exhibited exceptional thermal insulation abilities and was also strong and durable, making it ideal for knitting or weaving.
The research also discovered that it can be washed and dyed.
A volunteer is dressed in EAF textile, a down jacket, and wool and cotton sweaters to brave the freezing temperature of -20°C.
This study was conducted by Mingrui Wu and his team in the field of Science.
The scientists discovered that the fiber can stretch by up to 1,000%, which is a notable advancement compared to regular fibers which can only achieve ~2% strain.
According to the study, the thermal insulation abilities were unaffected even after 10,000 cycles of being stretched at 100% strain.
Scientists conducted additional experiments using the fibers to create a thin sweater. They discovered that despite being only one-fifth the thickness of a down jacket, it still offered similar insulation capabilities.
The results indicate potential for future advancement of versatile fibers that can be easily mass-produced through uncomplicated methods.
Source: independent.co.uk
