Bionic penguin feather wearable textile with coupled insulation for thermal management application

• Published in: Cellulose (London) 2024-11, Vol.31 (16), p.9777-9790
• Main Authors: Ran, Jiali, Chen, Yannan, Wang, Aobing, Dai, Yuting, Zhang, Tao, Qiu, Fengxian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bionics; Bioorganic Chemistry; Carbon nanotubes; Cellulose; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Contact angle; Deicing; Glass; Heat loss; Infrared reflection; Insulation; Manganese dioxide; Mechanical properties; Natural Materials; Organic Chemistry; Original Research; Physical Chemistry; Polylactic acid; Polymer Sciences; Sunlight; Sustainable Development; Tensile strength; Textiles; Thermal insulation; Thermal management; Wearable technology; Weather
• ISSN: 0969-0239; 1572-882X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10570-024-06183-2

The unique structure of penguin feathers endows them with extremely high thermal insulation properties in extreme cold environments via sunlight absorption, heat insulation and infrared reflection. Herein, inspired by a thermal insulation strategy of the penguin feathers, the laminated wearable textile with coupled thermal insulation was fabricated for thermal management. The outermost layer, comprised of carbon nanotube-cellulose, simulates the black tip of the penguin's dorsal feather, exhibiting exceptional light-to-heat conversion as it can swiftly elevate its temperature by 5 ℃ upon exposure to simulated sunlight. The middle layer, constructed from polylactic acid, mimics the intermediate section of the penguin's feather, achieving effective heat insulation by trapping significant amounts of air. And the innermost layer MnO 2 -cellulose membrane is functionally similar to the fluff of the penguin closest to the skin, reflecting the infrared radiation of the body to reduce heat loss. Additionally, the textile underwent hydrophobic modification, endowing it with waterproof properties, resulting in an alteration of the exterior contact angle from 52.2 to 118.8°. Furthermore, the textile displayed anti-ultraviolet capabilities (with ultraviolet transmittance below 8%), excellent mechanical performance (with tensile strength is 3.22 MPa) and active deicing properties, enhancing the wearable comfort. This work represents a versatile and comprehensive textile learning from the bionic structure of penguin feathers for highly efficient thermal management applications, making it attractive for textiles to satisfy various wearable applications in cold environments and even extreme weather conditions.