Transport properties of aerogel-based nanofibrous nonwoven fabrics

In this study, nanofiber web was laminated onto nonwoven fabric and silica aerogels were applied between these two layers during laminating process. The transport properties of the obtained fabrics were examined in terms of air permeability, water vapor permeability as well as thermal performance. Especially, the effect of aerogel areal density and thermal adhesive on thermal insulation properties of layered fabrics were investigated and analyzed. It was observed that air permeability and water vapor permeability of these layered fabrics were determined by nanofiber web and nonwoven substrate respectively, aerogels present in this layered structure showed limited influence on air permeability and insignificant effect on water vapor permeability. Results also indicated that thermal resistance of layered fabrics was directly proportional to areal density of aerogel with a correlation coefficient 0.91. The use of adhesive in textile structure would significantly reduce the thermal insulation performance. A series model was considered for thermal resistance of layered fabrics, and the results showed a good agreement between theoretical model and experimental values.