Ultrastrong and lamellar structured Al2O3-SiO2 fibrous mats with superior thermal insulation

Ceramic fiber materials with high mechanical robustness and outstanding thermal stability are highly sought for high-temperature thermal insulation applications. However, the practical use of traditional ceramic fibrous mats has been hindered by their limited tensile strength, resulting in ceramic fibrous mats being easily deformed or broken under actual conditions. In this study, we present the fabrication of biomimetic, cocoon-like Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 composite fibrous mats incorporating amorphous SiO 2 , γ-Al 2 O 3 , and mullite phases through the centrifugal spinning technique. The maximum tensile strength of these composite mats is determined to be 5.35 MPa, which is superior to most ceramic fiber materials. Additionally, the Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 composite fibrous mats demonstrate excellent thermal insulation properties, with a thermal conductivity as low as 0.026 W/(m·K) at room temperature and 0.14 W/(m·K) at 1000 °C. These exceptional characteristics position Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 composite fibrous mats as promising materials for thermal insulation in industrial, aerospace, and other demanding environments.