Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a new printable textile.
The textile can cool the body. It can also collect energy from human movement. In addition, it can provide heat when needed.
The research team is part of The Grainger College of Engineering. Lili Cai, a professor of mechanical science and engineering, led the work.
The team created the textile as one printable material. It combines cooling, energy collection, sensing and heating.
Printable Textile Can Cool Under Sunlight
The textile uses passive cooling. It reflects sunlight away from the material. At the same time, it releases heat into the air. Tests showed that the textile reflected 96% of incoming sunlight.
The team also tested the material outdoors. Under direct sunlight, it stayed about 3 to 6 degrees Celsius cooler than the surrounding air.
This cooling method does not need an outside power source. Therefore, it could be useful for clothing and other wearable products.
Human Movement Can Help Produce Heat
The textile can also collect energy from human movement. Movement creates small electrical signals in the material.
These signals can help control the heating function. As a result, the textile can respond to the wearer’s activity.
The material can stay in cooling mode when less heat is needed. It can also switch to heating mode when more warmth is needed.
This gives the textile an added level of control. It can react to changes in movement and thermal needs.
Flexible and Breathable Textile Design
The researchers used direct ink writing to make the textile. This printing method can create flexible textile structures.
The material also has a breathable structure. This makes it suitable for possible wearable uses.
For example, the textile could be used in athletic clothing. The team also tested a large printed area on the back of a shirt.
The test was carried out under sunlight. The researchers also studied the material’s flexibility and structure.
A New Approach to Smart Textiles
The new material brings several functions together. It can cool, collect energy, sense movement and provide heat.
These functions can support future smart textile products. Such products could adjust to changes in activity and temperature.
The research may also reduce the need for separate materials and external power sources.
