Clothes that adjust to your own body heat are set to end the infernal question, “do I need a jumper?”
Researchers in the United States have studied the colour-changing properties of squid skin to develop a fabric that adjusts to the wearer’s specific temperature needs.
Study author, University of California, Irvine, Associate Professor Alon Gorodetsky said researchers developed a method to manufacture a heat-adjusting material that was breathable and washable and could be integrated into flexible fabric.
Associate Professor Gorodetsky said the team looked at squid skin, which reacts to muscle action and changes the way it transmits and reflects visible light.
“Squid skin is complex, consisting of multiple layers that work together to manipulate light and change the animal’s overall coloration and patterning.”
He said instead of manipulating visible light, the team engineered a composite material that operated in the infrared spectrum.
“As people heat up, they emit some of their heat as invisible, infrared radiation.
“Clothing that manipulates and adapts to this emission and is fitted with thermoregulatory features can finely adjust to the desired temperature of the wearer.”
Associate Professor Gorodetsky said the material consisted of a polymer covered with copper islands and stretching it separated the islands and changed how it transmitted and reflected infrared light.
“This innovation creates the possibility of controlling the temperature of a garment.
“Our advanced composite material now opens opportunities for most wearable applications, but may be particularly suited for cold weather clothing like ski jackets, thermal socks, insulated gloves, and winter hats,” he said.
“The strategies used for endowing our materials with breathability, washability, and fabric compatibility could be translated to several other types of wearable systems, such as washable organic electronics, stretchable e-textiles, and energy-harvesting triboelectric materials.”
Read the full report: Manufacturing of breathable, washable, and fabric-integrated squid skin-inspired thermoregulatory materials.
