Preparation of coated fabrics with efficient radiation cooling and self-cleaning properties

Abstract

Facing the challenges of global warming and increasing energy consumption, the development of new textile materials with efficient thermal management and self-cleaning functions has become crucial. In this study, a composite coated fabric consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and nano‑silicon dioxide (SiO₂) was successfully prepared by a scratch coating process. The experimental results show that the material exhibits high light reflectivity of 89 % in the visible band, while realizing excellent thermal radiation efficiency of 97.5 % in the mid-infrared band, and this dual-frequency synergy significantly reduced the average temperature of the fabric surface by 11.7 °C compared to the untreated sample. The maximum cooling efficiency reached 13.1 °C and the net radiative cooling power reaches ∼120 W/m² demonstrating groundbreaking thermal management performance. Notably, through the optimization of the material ratio, the coated surface forms a remarkable superhydrophobic property with a water contact angle of 155 ± 1°, effectively realizing the self-cleaning function with a droplet rolling angle of less than 10°. Crucially, this approach achieves these outstanding radiative cooling and superhydrophobic properties while significantly enhancing the coating's adhesion to the fabric substrate. This multifunctionality allows the coated fabric to show great potential in outdoor tents, clothing and other thermal management applications, providing innovative solutions for combating climate change and resource conservation.