Intumescent Nanostructured Materials and Methods of Manufacturing Same

An intumescent nanostructured material for thermal protection comprising a member including a plurality of nanostructured materials, and an intumescent material associated with the member and configured to react in the presence of a heat source to form a foam for thermally insulating the member from the heat source. The member may be a non-woven sheet, a woven sheet, a yarn, or a network, and may be configured to conduct thermal energy away from a heat source. A solution comprising a plurality of nanostructured materials, an intumescent material, and a solvent, wherein the solution has a viscosity suitable for coating or spraying onto a surface of a substrate. The solution may have a viscosity of about 3000 centipoise to about 6000 centipoise, and possibly less than about 1000 centipoise. The solution, when dried on the substrate, may form a thermally-protective coating on the substrate.