The climate temperature of the world is going to increase every year. As per the experts, over past fifty years, the average global temperature is going upward at its fastest rate. And still experts are predicting that the trend is continuously accelerating. So, keeping in view, the recent climate situation, every sector of the life is striving their best to develop something productive to help the human being and environment. The contribution of smart textile and materials toward technology that offer the wearer increase functionality is slow but gradual. And the usage of smart materials based products is really high especially in military and defense and health care sector . Now, the smart textile is also striving to contribute something in clothing which offers cool-clothing to overcome the heat feeling.
Cooling Smart Materials Theme:
As described earlier, the research and development department of textile industry is continuously finding for the betterment of this industry. Moreover, they are not only seeking for better options but they are also focusing on cost effectiveness of the solution. The research and development department of Stanford University is right now focusing on climate issue. And they are extensively working on such plastic smart materials which cools the wearer. The motive of such cost effective solution is to save the energy. And as per the R&D people they are formulating such clothing smart materials which has the feature to keep the wearer cool in the hot climate. As per the Yi Cui (associate professor Stanford), If you can cool the person rather than the building where they work or live that will save energy.”
Plastic materials Clothing:
As per the R&D team, the plastic smart materials enable the wearer body to discharge the heat in various way. And this discharge will cause to reduce the temperature up to 04 degree Fahrenheit. So, the wearer will experience the coolant feeling as compare to cotton clothing. The integration of nanotechnology, chemistry and photonics which provides polythene properties of the clingy plastic which is normally use as kitchen wraps. Moreover, this solid (but see through) materials also allow thermal radiation, water and air to pass through. Since it has the features of polyethylene food wrap, so the infrared radiation also goes through from it easily. The whole process of this development is really challenging and difficult. But the research team is tackling each and every step very effectively and diligently.
At start of this research work, the researchers revealed an alternative of polyethylene that is normally used in batteries. The said smart materials (specific nanostructure) has the same characteristics like dense to light and transparent to infrared radiation which allow heat escape from body. Moreover, the treatment with bengin chemicals has modified the polyethylene with added features to let water vapor molecules that evaporate through the nano pores in the plastic. The initial experiment output was the development of single-sheet material that complied with the three standard criteria for cooling fabric. The research team is continuously working on this theme and trying to make it more versatile. And the versatility in materials will be like adding more colors options, texture and other cloth characteristics in the material.
Smart fabric is not only focus on cooling but also on anti-bacteria. I am doing research on this and will soon completed.