Have you ever felt too hot with a jacket on and too cold without it? Sportswear brands promote fabrics that adapt to every climate, but imagine a fabric that you can personally adjust to your thermal needs.
A group of researchers fromUniversity of California, Irvinecreated a material inspired by squid skin that is capable of regulating heat, is breathable, washable and can be integrated into fabrics. The results of this research were published on APL Bioengineering by AIP Publishing.
Squid skin is complex and made up of several layers that work together to manipulate light, thus changing the animal’s color and pattern. An example are chromatophores, small organs that expand and contract under the action of muscles to modulate the transmission and reflection of visible light. Scientists have used this principle to create a material that acts on infrared radiation instead. When the human body heats up, it emits heat in the form of invisible infrared radiation. This advanced fabric is able to adapt to this emission, allowing the temperature of the clothing item to be precisely controlled.
A washable, breathable material that can be perfectly integrated into fabrics
To make the material suitable for everyday use, the researchers applied a thin protective layer that makes it easily washable without losing its properties. Next, they perforated it to improve its breathability, making it permeable to air and water vapor, similar to cotton fabrics. To test its thermoregulating abilities, they used infrared spectroscopy and a special heating pad. Even after these changes, the material continued to maintain its performance unchanged.
The new material opens the door to many applications, especially in cold-weather clothing, such as ski jackets, thermal socks, insulating gloves and winter hats. Furthermore, the manufacturing methods employed could also be applied to other sectors, such as washable wearable electronics and stretch fabrics with energy storage capabilities.
