Influence of silica aerogels on fabric structural feature for thermal isolation properties of weft-knitted spacer fabrics

Abstract

Textile clothing coated with silica aerogels has the potential of thermal insulation performance for heating and cooling. This work investigated the thermal isolation properties of untreated and treated three-layered weft-knitted spacer fabrics with different thicknesses (2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm) by using silica aerogels. Three samples of spacer fabrics (300GSM, 350GSM, 540GSM) were coated with nanoporous silica aerogel at a 26°C temperature and then kept for aging, exchanging the solvent, surface modification. The characteristics, for example, thermal resistance, thermal conductivity, yarn arrangement angle, porosity, and air permeability of spacer fabric samples, were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflection test were conducted to explore the surface morphology and surface changes initiated by the silica coating. The experimental results indicated that the treated weft-knitted spacer fabrics with 350GSM have a higher thermal resistance of 0.09131 m2 K W−1, higher porosity ratio, higher air permeability, higher arrangement angle, and lower density. The statistical analysis also verified the significant performance (p = 0.000) of treated fabric samples at the 0.05 level.

Functionalization of aminoalkylsilane-grafted cotton for antibacterial, thermal, and wettability properties

“…Aminoalkylsilane grafted showed very low surface energy below 52 mN m −1 . This was close to the surface energy of oils (20–30 mN m −1 ) and far below that of water (72 mN m −1 ), 34 contributing to the fabric superhydrophobicity, with a water contact angle up to 118°. Therefore, oil droplets displaced water droplets, while water repelled outside the surface due to having high contact angles, which are substantially spherical in shape, and a high energy barrier.…”

Surface Functionalization of Cotton and PC Fabrics Using SiO2 and ZnO Nanoparticles for Durable Flame Retardant Properties

“…Therefore, diversification and performance optimization of textile materials is continuously in demand, for example, for functional textiles (heat and flame resistant clothing, fire-protective clothing, radiant heat protective clothing, protective clothing for coal miners, protective clothing for racing drivers, protective clothing for astronauts, protective clothing for armed forces, and antimicrobial protective clothing) [3][4][5]. As a result, scientists have focused on fabricating novel applications including sensors and effective development of textile polymeric materials that may also have environmental impact [6][7][8][9].…”

The study of hydrophobicity and oleophilicity of 3D weft-knitted spacer fabrics integrated with silica aerogels

“…Moreover, burls and stubs were noted on the surface of treated spacer fabrics that also indicated the surface roughness. Though all treated samples improved the water contact angles significantly, however, sample 2 had the most prominent water contact angle results followed by sample 1 and sample 3 since holding the higher SAs percentage in the fabric structure after coating [51]. The higher the add-on % of silica gels, the higher the water contact angle.…”

“…Among all the entire treated spacer fabric samples, sample 2 had the most oil sorption capacity as compared to sample 1 and sample 2 for both oils. This was due to the higher add-on % of silica gels and the higher porosity ratio [51]. The higher the add-on % of silica gels, the higher the oil sorption capacity.…”