Bioinspired hierarchical assembly of silk fibroin nanoparticles and PDMS on basalt fibers for vivid coloration and extreme environment resistance in aerospace composites

Basalt fibers (BFs) have garnered significant attention due to their excellent properties; however, their inherently smooth surface and chemical inertness limit applications requiring visual identification and multifunctionality. Enhancing their coloration appeal and functionality is therefore of practical interest. In this study, we developed an effective strategy to fabricate brightly colored hydrophobic BF fabrics. First, a non-solvent induced phase separation method was employed to convert silk fibroin (SF) into nanoparticles and deposit them onto the BF surface. Subsequently, coloration was achieved using an acid dye in an ethanol/water system, and the underlying mechanism was investigated. Finally, a hydrophobic surface was obtained by high-temperature curing of a polydimethylsiloxane coating on the samples. The results demonstrated that an SF concentration of 60 wt% provided optimal deposition on the BF. The dyed fabric exhibited the highest color strength at an ethanol concentration of 98%. After surface functionalization, the water contact angle of the samples reached approximately 120°. Extreme environmental testing revealed that the polydimethylsiloxane-coated dyed basalt with SF nanoparticles (PDBS) fabric retains vivid coloration and structural integrity under repeated high-low temperature cycles (from 150 °C to − 196 °C) and intense ultraviolet irradiation, attributes that are critical for deployment in space-related settings. This combination of color durability and resilience against harsh conditions positions the PDBS fabric as a viable material for aerospace applications, including deep-space exploration identification, astronaut protective textiles, and flexible spacecraft coverings. This strategy not only offers a novel route to bright coloration of BFs but also achieves satisfactory color durability in extreme environments, thereby expanding their potential in aerospace and other high-technology sectors.