With warmer weather on its way, sweltering through sizzling Australian summers could be a thing of the past. In fact, technology advancements in the textile industry have seen the implementation of technical fabrics with self-cooling properties that help regulates skin temperature by managing heat and moisture.

Evidently, cooling fabrics can be extremely effective in minimising heat to keep individuals comfortable in warm conditions. However, self-cooling textiles have an abundance of applications that can benefit a multitude of industries. As a leading fabric engineering company, our team at Biomed Technology Australia offers self-cooling fabrics that are valuable for industries including sporting, medical, trade businesses, emergency services and many more. Some studies even suggest that self-cooling fabric has the potential to reduce air conditioning consumption.

Advanced heat regulating technical textiles use unique fabric construction to assist the bodies natural cooling process. In warm environments, our bodies core temperature elevates. In response to this, the body naturally perspires in order to help the keep individuals cool and ensure body temperature is regulated at a safe range. In order to enhance this, self-cooling textiles utilise active wicking to allow perspiration to pass through materials and provide greater comfort for the user, while also helping draw body radiated heat through the fabric, therefore keeping the body cool. By doing so, these technical fabrics are practical to keep individuals cool and comfortable in a vast range of environments.

Self-Cooling Textiles for The Sporting Industry

Currently, self-cooling textiles are most commonly applied in the sporting apparel and fashion sectors. Designed to maximise performance and provide superior comfort for athletes of abilities, sporting fabrics have long adopted a scientific approach to help provide a competitive edge. Just look at Olympic regulations surrounding swimwear construction, it is easy to see that technical textiles in sport are often quite valuable. Therefore, it is no surprise that recent advancements in the textile industry have been concerned with how heat regulation textiles can aid athletes and improve their performance.

During periods of exercise, the body converts energy into heat, therefore raising the overall body temperature. As aforementioned, the body then emits perspiration as a way to help cool the body down. However, poorly designed apparel with ill-equipped textiles can trap body heat, therefore hindering the natural cooling process and lead to adverse effects. When body heat is trapped and obstructs the natural cooling process, more sweat may be excreted to compensate.

However, raised body temperature and excessive period of sweating can lead to dangerous heat-related illnesses and dehydration, severely impacting performance. For example, heat-induced illnesses can result in painful muscle cramps, dizziness and exhaustion often confused with exercise fatigue.

Cooling textiles for sport are so important to prevent these illnesses from arising in the first place. By using breathable technical textiles for sporting headgear and performance wear, athletes can remain comfortable and adequately regulate their body temperature, focusing on performance instead.

Heat Regulating Fabric Manufacturing for The Medical Industry

Less commonly acknowledged, self-cooling technical textiles provide immense benefit for the medical industry, particularly in the treatment of heat-related illnesses as discussed above. Infections, exercised induced conditions and chronic illnesses can all result in elevated body temperatures and fever. While the body naturally raises its core temperature slightly to fight infection, excessive temperatures or prolonged periods of fever can be an indication of something more serious, and potentially life-threatening. Furthermore, in some injuries, an increase of blood flow causes heat and swelling. First aid, usually stipulates ice cold cooling as an effective method to help alleviate such symptoms.

In order to effectively treat such conditions, ice cold towels may be used. However, after periods of exposure to heat, such materials may lose their ability to remain cool, thus requiring excessive use of resources. However, self-cooling fabrics can be used in the construction of cold towels to help maintain cool temperatures for longer, therefore helping treat common conditions without wasting vital medical resources.

Self Cooling Technical Fabrics for Trade Industries

Consisting of landscapers, electricians, carpenters, scaffolders and more, employees in the trade industry are often required to complete outdoor tasks, potentially exposing them to the perils of heat-related illnesses. Not to mention, uniforms and work attire that is required to be worn on job sites are usually not lightweight, therefore obstructing the body’s natural cooling process and potentially exacerbating heat-related conditions.

Similar to athletic performance apparel, uniforms for outdoor workers should be breathable and self-cooling to prevent elevated body temperatures. Excessive physical work, particularly in the summer heat, can be detrimental, therefore ensuring comfort and adequate heat regulation will limit this risk. Not to mention, increased comfort particularly in warm climates, can lead to improved productivity on the job site.

Heat Regulating Technical Textiles for Emergency Services Personnel

For emergency services personnel such as firefighters, self-cooling technical textiles can provide immense benefit. Although current firefighting uniforms are non-flammable and offer superior protection, warm environments that firefighters face can still be experienced and elevate body temperature, which can impact efficiency, endurance and potentially cost lives.

However, the use of self-cooling fabrics in undergarments can reverse these adverse effects. By effectively regulating body temperature and keeping the wearer cool in heated climates, firefighters can remain more comfortable – therefore impacting productivity, maximising endurance in difficult environments and prevent heat-related illnesses that could be life-threatening.

Self-cooling fabrics and technical textiles have proven to be valuable for a numerous range of industries. Including the industries mentioned above, self-cooling fabrics can also provide immense benefit for the production of linen, pet care bedding and accessories and hospitality. The applications of such a product are unlimited and can deliver exceptional to both the wearer and the economy.

As a leading fabric engineering company, we are dedicated to providing superior technical textiles that are valuable for a vast range of industries. For more information on how self-cooling fabrics can benefit your industry or to see how our team could help you manufacture self-cooling products, please do not hesitate to contact the professional Biomed team on (02) 9758 3855.