Heat-sensitive fabric cools you on hot days and warms you in the cold
TECHNOLOGY 7 February 2019
By Donna Lu
We’re
used to piling on the layers to warm ourselves up, but what about
wearing clothes to cool us down? A temperature sensitive fabric adjusts
to how hot, cold or sweaty the wearer is to help them reach the perfect
temperature.
used to piling on the layers to warm ourselves up, but what about
wearing clothes to cool us down? A temperature sensitive fabric adjusts
to how hot, cold or sweaty the wearer is to help them reach the perfect
temperature.
The textile is made from
heat-sensitive yarn with fibres that expand or contract in response to
heat and humidity. When the yarn is hot or wet, it collapses into a
tight bundle, effectively opening gaps in the cloth to enable heat loss.
The opposite effect occurs when the textile is cold or dry: the fibres
expand, reducing gaps to prevent heat escaping.
heat-sensitive yarn with fibres that expand or contract in response to
heat and humidity. When the yarn is hot or wet, it collapses into a
tight bundle, effectively opening gaps in the cloth to enable heat loss.
The opposite effect occurs when the textile is cold or dry: the fibres
expand, reducing gaps to prevent heat escaping.
This
acts as a heat regulating-switch, which automatically turns on or off
depending on your level of thermal discomfort, says YuHuang Wang at the
University of Maryland.
acts as a heat regulating-switch, which automatically turns on or off
depending on your level of thermal discomfort, says YuHuang Wang at the
University of Maryland.
Smart clothes adapt so you are always the right temperature
One
of the ways the human body absorbs and loses heat is by infrared
radiation. At room temperature, around 40 per cent of heat transfer
happens this way.
of the ways the human body absorbs and loses heat is by infrared
radiation. At room temperature, around 40 per cent of heat transfer
happens this way.
Most fabrics trap infrared
radiation to keep us warm, but can’t vary by how much they do so. This
is also true of moisture-wicking fabrics that are often used by people
when they exercise to help regulate their temperature. Wang’s team’s
fabric can vary the amount of infrared radiated by 35 per cent as the
humidity of the underlying skin changes.
radiation to keep us warm, but can’t vary by how much they do so. This
is also true of moisture-wicking fabrics that are often used by people
when they exercise to help regulate their temperature. Wang’s team’s
fabric can vary the amount of infrared radiated by 35 per cent as the
humidity of the underlying skin changes.
It can
be knitted, dyed and washed like other sportswear fabrics. Wang hopes
that in the near future his team can partner with a manufacturer to
produce clothing using the fabric.
be knitted, dyed and washed like other sportswear fabrics. Wang hopes
that in the near future his team can partner with a manufacturer to
produce clothing using the fabric.
Journal reference: Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.aau1217
URL: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2193057-heat-sensitive-fabric-cools-you-on-hot-days-and-warms-you-in-the-cold/
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