All-Weather 3D Self-Folding Fabric for Adaptive Personal Thermoregulation

Abstract

Highlights An innovative 3D self-folding fabric was fabricated by knitting technology to achieve dual thermoregulation modes through architectural reconfiguration between 3D and 2D states. In the warming mode, the fabric retains its natural 3D structure, providing high thermal resistance (0.06 m2 K W⁻1) by trapping still air. In the cooling mode, it transitions to a 2D flat state with coatings of thermal radiative management materials, achieving a cooling effect of 4.3 °C under sunlight by enhancing solar reflectivity and infrared emissivity, while reducing thermal resistance. The fabric demonstrates exceptional durability and washability, enduring over 1000 folding cycles, and is manufactured using scalable and cost-effective knitting techniques.

Keywords

• Dual-mode fabric
• 3D knitting
• Personal thermal management
• Thermal insulation
• Radiative cooling