BBC World – how new fabrics that cool the body rather than heat it work

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Image caption the new tissue could greatly reduce energy consumption in air conditioning in offices.

From time immemorial humans have used skins or tissues to protect us from cold, rain or sun.

And while not all the clothes we wear main objective is to heat the body, most inevitably it ends up doing precisely that traps heat.

In recent years, however, there have been many attempts to develop tissues capable of keeping relatively cool body during exercise or even under the most extreme conditions.

a new fabric created by researchers at the Stanford University offers an interesting alternative to those already available on the market, which usually operate trying to provide greater insulation, increasing the circulation of air or taking advantage of the cooling effect of sweat.

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Image caption Many of today’s soft tissues try to take advantage of the sweat.

According to the researchers, the tissue in question is able to reduce reducing body temperature to two degrees C , without sweat.

And in presenting the results of their research, published in the latest issue of the journal Science , say the it could revolutionize the way people dress in hot weather , in addition to allowing significant energy savings by reducing the use of fans and air conditioners.

” Personal thermal Management “

the fabric in question is made of polyethylene , the same plastic film which is used to separate the positive pole and negativoen lithium batteries or for wrapping food in the kitchen.

One of the main qualities of polyethylene is that it is virtually transparent to the mid-infrared radiation (IR).

that makes it an ideal place to try to manage the process of dissipation own body heat materials: what Stanford researchers call “personal thermal management”

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Image caption The researchers believe that the tissue can contribute to a significant reduction in energy consumption we use to freshen up.

Indeed, our body is constantly releasing heat. And in a rest position indoors IR radiation contributes more than 50% of the total heat loss from the body.

In winter, wearing clothes that help to retain that radiation is a good way to keep us warm.

But Stanford researchers developed a type of perforated polyethylene does the opposite.

And that’s what allows you to reduce body temperature in at least two degrees, when compared with cotton garments.

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Image caption The new clothes proposes new solutions to escape the heat.

The material in question also has 100 times smaller than the thickness of a sheet of paper pores large enough to let the waves of thermal radiation and vapor sweat, but not the waves of visible light, which prevents transparent to our eyes.

And to make more permeable air , the researchers also made holes in parts of the tissue with needles the diameter of a human hair, in addition to treating it with a harmless chemical to increase perspiration.

Way to go

Another advantage of the new tissue, is that it is u n plastic low-cost or , which allow manufacturing of large-scale tissue.

But despite your g ran potential , researchers say there are aspects that could be improved.

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Image caption for those who can not shower at work, the new tissue can be a good alternative.

What s researchers propose add a thin cotton mesh between two pieces of new tissue, which does not alter would properties soft tissue, but increase its strength and thickness.

but we still have to work to make more washes hold or find dyes that do not alter the ability of the tissue to release thermal radiation .

And scientists also They admit that the new tissue is not as flexible and soft com or traditional

But yes. is much more refreshing