# Dual‐Responsive Yarn‐Based Artificial Muscles for Adaptive Thermal Management

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a smart artificial muscle that can adapt to temperature changes by combining moisture and heat responses, enabling textiles to switch between warming and cooling.

## Contribution

A hybrid yarn-based artificial muscle that couples moisture actuation with electrothermal recovery for improved performance and controllability.

## Key findings

- HYAM increases actuation stroke by 128% and speed by 136% compared to traditional yarn-based muscles.
- Electrothermal recovery reduces recovery and full-cycle times by 91% and 83%, respectively.
- HYAM enables adaptive thermal management by flipping dual-mode radiative curtains for warming and cooling.

## Abstract

In the face of global extreme weather and a changing climate, the development of adaptive textiles that provide thermoregulation by altering their structure has become increasingly critical. Such textiles require artificial muscles capable of fast, reliable motion to effectively respond to fluctuating environmental conditions. However, moisture‐responsive yarn‐based muscles, while promising candidates, are hindered by slow and uncontrollable actuation, limiting their practical application. Inspired by the conscious movement of skeletal muscle, we present a hybrid yarn‐based artificial muscle (HYAM) that couples moisture actuation with electrothermal recovery. This design achieves a 128% increase in actuation stroke and a 136% increase in speed compared with pristine yarn‐based muscles. Electrothermal recovery controllably shortens recovery and full‐cycle times by 91% and 83%, respectively. Inspired by spindle‐driven gates, HYAM flips dual‐mode radiative curtains to switch between warming and cooling, showing promise for intelligent personalized thermal management.

Inspired by the conscious movements of skeletal muscle, a novel hybrid yarn‐based artificial muscle (HYAM) coupling moisture actuation with controllable recovery is developed. This unique design increases actuation stroke by 128% and shortens recovery time by 91%. This unique design enhances the actuation stroke by 128% and reduces the recovery time by 91%. It is successfully applied to adaptively flip a dual‐mode radiation fabric, enabling switchable warming and cooling functions for all‐weather smart thermal management textiles.