The advanced material has very low thermal conductivity which can prevent heat loss, Bai Hao, a research fellow at Zhejiang University's College of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the leader of the team which developed the textile, told the Global Times.

Bai said that the average thermal conductivity of the material is even lower than polar bears' hair. Polar bear fur has another advantage in that they can conceal the bear from thermal imaging cameras used in many night-vision devices. The fur has a hollow core, which helps keep the bear warm and reflects back infrared radiation emissions from the animal's body.

To imitate the structure, Bai's team mixed silk with water, and slowly squeezed the mixture through a syringe into a device at a low temperature where a frozen fibre containing ice crystals was formed.

Bai said that the material is expected to be used in producing garments with better heat restoration capabilities and will cost less than down jackets. It can also be used as military clothing, such as concealing soldiers due to its special structure.

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