Three engineers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a synthetic version of polar bear fur that is lighter than cotton and warmer, according to a study published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. The two-layered fabric mimics not only the fur but also the black skin of the polar bear that helps it stay warm. The fabric has already entered the commercial development phase, as a Boston-based company called Soliyard is producing cloth coated with the material.
Mimicking Polar Bear Fur: The Inspiration
The inspiration for this synthetic material comes from the way polar bear fur works. The researchers discovered that the white fur of polar bears is effective in transmitting solar radiation towards their skin. The black skin of the bear then conducts sunlight to the skin, which absorbs the light and heats the bear. The fur also helps prevent the skin from radiating too much warmth. It acts like a thick blanket, trapping the heat and warming up itself.
The Solution: The Synthetic Fabric
The synthetic fabric works in a similar way. A top layer of threads conducts light to a lower layer made of nylon and coated with a dark material called PEDOT, which warms up. The researchers say a jacket using this material would be 30% lighter than another made of cotton but would leave the wearer more comfortable at temperatures 10C colder, as long as the sun is out. The fabric is not only effective for outerwear on sunny days, but it could also be used to focus energy resources on the ‘personal climate’ around the body.
This breakthrough material is the result of an 80-year quest to create a textile that mimics polar bear fur. The synthetic fabric is not only lighter than cotton but also warmer. This breakthrough has a wide range of commercial applications and could lead to more sustainable energy solutions.
