Beijing Pacific Scientists Develop Super Hydrophilic Wool

It is expected to integrate high-quality "second skin of human body".

Recently, the Journal of the American Chemical Society reported and commented on the breakthroughs made by scientists in Beijing and Hong Kong on the development of functional wool fabrics using nanotechnology.

Wool is known as "magic fabric" because of its light, soft and warm quality.

However, the surface scale structure makes it natural hydrophobic, which is not conducive to anti wrinkle, shrinkproof and dyeing finishing process, and hinders its ability to absorb water vapor, resulting in low moisture absorption and sweat rate. Especially after a lot of exercise, it can easily make people feel hot and uncomfortable.

Although scientists have developed methods to make wool more hydrophilic, they are either of poor stability or damage to the natural structure of wool fibers.

How to develop a simple, effective and durable preparation method of super hydrophilic function of wool is a major problem in the field of wool application without damaging the structure of wool fiber.

Tang Fangqiong, a professor of physics and Chemical Technology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a nanotechnology finishing team jointly developed by Professor Li Yi of Hong Kong Polytech University, can make the wool possess "brain", making it a "smart" fabric that is good for shrinkproof, wrinkle resistant, and can "breathe" and release sweat.

The technology has modified the hydrophilic nano thin layer on the surface of wool fiber, which is made up of silica nanoparticles equivalent to 1/50000 of human hair width.

These particles can make the wool super hydrophilic by changing the surface energy and surface structure of the fiber.

Moreover, this new thin layer will not affect the color and texture of wool, and can withstand routine dry cleaning.

This work can not only improve the hydrophilicity of wool fabrics, increase its comfort level, but also hope to integrate many functions such as shrinkproof, wrinkle resistant, fast drying, bacteriostasis, deodorizing, anti ultraviolet and so on, and integrate high-quality "second skin of human body".

This research achievement embodies the perfect combination of basic research and actual demand. At present, it has applied for domestic invention patents and is applying for international invention patents.

Now, three foreign technology consulting companies have contacted the team and are making in-depth investigations into the progress and industrialization prospects of the technology.