Performance Optimization of Silicon Aerogel and In-Depth Research on its Thermal Insulation Performance in Various Fabric Structures 


Vol. 27,  No. 4, pp. 2033-2043, Apr.  2026
10.1007/s12221-026-01328-5


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  Abstract

This study successfully synthesized high-performance silica aerogel with a continuous three-dimensional network structure via a sol-gel process. Compared with traditional insulating materials, this aerogel achieves superior thermal insulation efficiency per unit thickness due to its unique nanoporous structure. The material exhibited a high specific surface area of 888.65 m2/g and an average pore diameter of 62.3 nm, contributing to its exceptional thermal insulation properties. After hydrophobic modification, the aerogel achieved a water contact angle of 144°, confirming excellent hydrophobicity. This work systematically evaluated the thermal insulation performance of the aerogel applied as a coating and an interlayer in fabric composites. Key quantitative results demonstrate that the optimal thermal insulation was achieved with a 7 wt% aerogel content in an interlayer fabric structure. Under standard heat exposure testing (120 s), the backside temperature of the blank interlayer fabric stabilized at 31.5 °C, while that of the 7% aerogel-modified fabric stabilized at only 30.5 °C, resulting in a stable temperature difference of 1.0 °C. This corresponds to a 3.2% reduction in heat transfer, highlighting a significant improvement in thermal barrier performance. The findings validate the practical applicability of silica aerogel as an efficient thermal functional layer in flexible fabric composites, offering a lightweight, high-performance solution for thermal management in areas such as industrial protective clothing, building energy efficiency, and specialized apparel.

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  Cite this article

[IEEE Style]

J. Liu, J. Dong, F. Lu, K. Fu, M. Tang, R. Sun, "Performance Optimization of Silicon Aerogel and In-Depth Research on its Thermal Insulation Performance in Various Fabric Structures," Fibers and Polymers, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 2033-2043, 2026. DOI: 10.1007/s12221-026-01328-5.

[ACM Style]

Jiatong Liu, Jie Dong, Fukuan Lu, Kaiyue Fu, Mengyao Tang, and Runjun Sun. 2026. Performance Optimization of Silicon Aerogel and In-Depth Research on its Thermal Insulation Performance in Various Fabric Structures. Fibers and Polymers, 27, 4, (2026), 2033-2043. DOI: 10.1007/s12221-026-01328-5.

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