The thick pelt that helps polar bears to survive frigid Arctic winters has inspired a warm, sturdy fibre. Inspired by the microstructure and thermal insulation function of the polar bear hair, a research team led by Professor Hao Bai with Zhejiang University’s, Hangzhou, China, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering has used a freeze-spinning technique to continuously fabricate silk fibroin solution into a fibre with aligned porous microstructure.
The textile woven with the biomimetic fibers has not only good thermal insulation properties, but also features active electroheating capacity when doped with carbon nanotubes, good wearability and breathability, making it a promising material for thermal insulation and personal thermal management, the researchers write in Advanced Materials – A Thermally Insulating Textile Inspired by Polar Bear Hair.
The fibre makes the rabbit invisible to infrared light. Zhejiang University
‘We may wear a fine sweater instead of thick coats in winter in the not-too-distant future. Soldiers can successfully evade infrared detection while wearing a thermal invisible coat,’ Bai said.
The core of a polar-bear hair consists of a sponge-like network of hollows, which help to make it a good insulator. Many a pore seals air. When air is static, heat convection cannot take place, thereby reducing the loss of heat,’ Bai said.
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