It becomes easy to bear the summer heat with plaster clothes
In an effort to combat the summer heat, scientists have developed a new cooling fabric using a plaster-based coating.
Eviralnews,, quoted by IE, the project managers from the University of Amherst, Massachusetts, say that this innovative fabric can keep the air under it cool to minus 13 degrees Celsius and help anyone who participates in outdoor activities in the summer heat. It helps, like athletes and workers.
Chemist and materials scientist Trisha L. Andrew said, “If you walk in the sun, you'll get increasingly warm because your body and clothing absorb ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared light. (near infrared) from the sun; “And as long as you're alive, your body produces heat, and the sunlight is still there.”
For the past few years, scientists have been trying to create fabrics that can simultaneously block sunlight and release body heat, a process called radiative cooling.
Some materials have artificial light-refractive particles, such as titanium dioxide or aluminum oxide, in the woven fibers. In others, organic polymers are used in manufacturing processes to produce light reflective fabrics.
Despite the potential benefits, expanding production of these materials for commercial use is not considered sustainable. Therefore, the researchers decided to create a fabric cover that would provide the same result using natural or environmentally friendly materials.
These scientists made a stable mineral-polymer coating; A combination of calcium carbonate and barium sulfate, which are natural minerals found in gypsum.
Additionally, calcium carbonate particles effectively reflect visible and near-infrared light, while barium sulfate particles specialize in reflecting ultraviolet light.
They developed a simple and environmentally friendly process to apply the coating to a variety of fabrics. For this, small squares of fabric were coated with a polymer layer before being repeatedly immersed in solutions containing calcium or barium ions as well as carbonate or sulfate ions. This created a chalky, matte finish on the fabric.
To evaluate the cooling effectiveness of coated and uncoated fabrics, the researchers conducted outdoor tests on a sunny day when the temperature exceeded 32°C.
Interestingly, the coated fabric showed a cooling effect of minus 13 degrees Celsius compared to the ambient temperature in the middle of the afternoon. The difference was even greater, with a maximum difference of 9.5 degrees Celsius in the temperature of the air under the sample between the coated and uncoated fabric. The organizers of this project say that the temperature felt under the sample is cooler than standing in the shade.
Other performance features include the durability of this coating, which resists the rigors of washing and drying.
What makes their method unique, the scientists said, is that it can be done on almost any commercially available fabric, turning it into something that can keep people cool. Without any electricity consumption, it is possible to reduce a person's feeling of heat; An achievement that could be a valuable resource for people struggling to stay cool in extremely hot environments.
They say their research is hampered by the size of the lab equipment. However, they are exploring the possibility of collaborating with a knowledge-based company to bring their innovations to production on a pilot scale. If commercialized, this innovative fabric has the potential to make outdoor activities more comfortable and enjoyable for people of all ages.
The results of this research have been published in the journal of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
