Bio-inspired SiO2/Polydopamine functionalized PET fabrics for enhanced ultraviolet protection and thermophysiological comfort

The development of multifunctional textile surfaces with enhanced ultraviolet (UV) protection, thermophysiological comfort, and thermal insulation is of considerable interest for protective clothing and wearable applications. This study systematically evaluates the effects of a bio-inspired polydopamine (PDA)-assisted SiO 2 coating on the thermophysiological comfort and UV-protective performance of PET fabrics, establishing the relationship between surface modification and multifunctional textile performance. A bio-inspired, PDA-assisted strategy was employed to immobilize silica (SiO 2 ) nanoparticles onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics via a simple, environmentally friendly surface-modification process. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the coated fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming the successful deposition of a uniform PDA/SiO 2 hybrid coating. The coated fabrics exhibited remarkable ultraviolet shielding performance, with the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) increasing from 27 for pristine PET to 310 for the Si45/PDA sample. The corresponding UVA and UVB blocking efficiencies exceeded 98% and 99%, respectively. The SiO 2 coating also significantly improved thermal properties by reducing thermal conductivity from 0.1052 to 0.0881 W/m·K, increasing thermal resistance from 0.00117 to 0.00150 m 2 K/W, and enhancing the thermal insulation index by approximately 66%. Despite coating, the fabrics maintained high relative water vapor permeability (88.2%–93.5%) and acceptable air permeability, while the overall moisture management capability (OMMC) increased markedly from 0.12 for pristine PET to 0.74 for the Si45/PDA sample. Infrared thermography further confirmed the enhanced thermal insulation performance of the coated fabrics. These findings demonstrate that PDA-assisted SiO 2 surface engineering provides a simple, scalable, and sustainable strategy for developing multifunctional PET textiles with enhanced UV protection and thermophysiological comfort for advanced protective and outdoor textile applications.