Categories: Other

Researchers use shellfish skeleton in new smart textile

Researchers have made a smart textile a process that begins by freeze-spinning silk and material from the outer skeleton of a shellfish.

Writing in Flexible and Robust Biomaterial Microstructured Colored Textiles for Personal Thermoregulation, a paper published by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers described a “strong, comfortable fabric that heats and cools skin, with no energy input”.

According to ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, “the researchers freeze-spun silk and chitosan, a material from the hard outer skeleton of shellfish, into coloured fibres with porous microstructures. They filled the pores with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a phase-changing polymer that absorbs and releases thermal energy. Then, they coated the threads with polydimethylsiloxane to keep the liquid PEG from leaking out. The resulting fibers were strong, flexible and water-repellent”.

Researchers then wove the fibres into a patch of fabric that they could test by putting it into a polyester glove. Someone wearing the glove placed their hand in a hot chamber, where the solid PEG absorbed heat and melted into a liquid, cooling the skin under the patch. When the gloved hand moved to a cold (50 F) chamber, the PEG solidified, releasing heat and warming the skin.

The team — which received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the WNLO Man-Machine Lab Fund — includes Jiawei Wu, Run Hu, Shaoning Zeng, Wang Xi, Shiyao Huang, Shiyao Huang, Junhui Deng and Guangming Tao, all from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.

They said the process for making the fabric could be scaled up for mass production.

Source: Sports Textiles

Recent Posts

Nextevo showcases chemical-free pineapple leaf fiber

Nextevo has introduced its 100% chemical-free pineapple leaf fiber to the global market, highlighting its sustainable qualities and versatile applications.

20 hours ago

Benin emerges as a sustainable textile production hub

Benin is positioning itself as a new center for sustainable textile production, backed by the Aid by Trade Foundation’s (AbTF)…

20 hours ago

Teijin Frontier introduces Octair insulation fiber

Teijin Frontier has announced Octair, an advanced polyester insulation fiber designed for bedding and apparel, making it ideal alternative to…

20 hours ago

Gebrüder Otto, ITA Augsburg develop towels with 50% recycled fiber

Gebrüder Otto has partnered with the Recycling Atelier at ITA Augsburg to create cotton towels using yarns made from 50%…

2 days ago

Scientists develop silk threads, turning clothing into power sources

Scientists have found a way to turn textiles into energy sources by creating a unique silk thread coated with a…

2 days ago

The LYCRA Company launches LYCRA TOP COMFORT fiber

The LYCRA Company has introduced its newest advancement for pantyhose waistbands, called LYCRA® TOP COMFORT fiber.

2 days ago