Abstract
This study was conducted to develop excellent insole with good thermal insulation using new materials. We investigated that aerogel/fiber composite can be used as padding materials of shoes by comparing surface shape, moisture regain, water vapor permeability, thermal insulation and compression rate of insole materials tried with nonwoven fabric padding materials and insole sold in market. The results are as follows. Surface shapes were shown that the most appropriate material for sealing aerogel/fiber composite was high density fabric as per size of particle of aerogel. Moisture regain of aerogel/fabric composite was better than nonwoven fabric padding samples. However, when compared to insole sold in market, its moisture regain was worse than those of insole merchandises. Water vapor permeability was higher in material padded with nonwoven fabric than materials padded with aerogel/fiber composite in all three kinds of sealing fabrics. Thermal conductivity of aerogel/fabric composite was lower than nonwoven fabric material regardless of sealing fabrics. Thermal insulation of aerogel/fiber composite was higher than padding material of nonwoven fabric regardless of sealing fabrics. Compression rate of nonwoven (SP1) was higher than that of aerogel/fiber composite (SP2). Compressive elastic recovery rate of SP1 was also higher than that of SP2, which its compression rate and compressive elastic recovery rate were both poor. As the above result, ultra porous aerogel/fiber composite were proved to be material of good thermal insulation with lower thermal conductivity and also compression rate was proved to be low. Therefore, we can say that aerogel/fiber composite have high possibility to be used as insole materials for cold winter shoes requiring good thermal insulation protection.