Development of high-insulating materials with aerogel for protective clothing applications – an overview

Abstract Aerogels are ultra-light solids with extremely low thermal conductivity (even lower than air), thanks to which they have a huge potential in a wide range of applications. The purpose of this publication is to present the state-of-the art knowledge of the possibility of using aerogels to increase the thermal insulation properties of clothing materials intended for use in both cold and hot environments. Various methods of aerogels application to textile materials (non-woven, woven and knitted fabrics) are discussed, indicating their advantages and limitations. Numerous research studies confirm that aerogels significantly improve the thermal insulation properties of materials, but due to their delicate and brittle structure and their tendency to dusting, their application still poses considerable problems.