Subambient Daytime Radiation Cooling Protective Materials Based on Micro-nano Polyethylene Fibers

Polyethylene (PE) nonwovens produced via flash spunbonding are widely used in personal protective equipment (PPE) and construction due to their excellent mechanical strength, barrier properties, and balanced water-vapor permeability. However, conventional PE-based protective materials often experience significant heat and moisture buildup during extended use in high-temperature environments, leading to discomfort, excessive perspiration, and even heat stress. Here, we developed radiative cooling PE nonwovens (PE-P/SiO2) by applying a polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP)/silicon dioxide (SiO2) hierarchical porous coating via a non-solvent-induced phase separation method. The resulting structure endows the PE nonwovens with high solar reflectance (93.8%) and strong MIR emissivity (96.4%), achieving a cooling effect of up to ∼13 °C under direct sunlight, significantly outperforming conventional PE nonwovens and cotton fabrics. Moreover, the PE-P/SiO2 nonwovens exhibit excellent self-cleaning ability, washing durability, and UV resistance, ensuring long-term performance. These radiative cooling PE nonwovens present a promising solution for enhancing thermal management in PPE and other heat-sensitive applications.