As part of an IGF research project, scientists at the Hohenstein Institute have been developing and analysing a textile finish that could provide a sensory cooling effect.
This being an innovation in textiles, the sensory perception of cold depended not only on the area of skin being treated but also on a range of other parameters, such as the moisture level in the skin and the topography of the skin surface.
This textile finish is based on p-menthane derivatives (agonists) such as WS-3 (N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide) or L-menthyl lactate and icilin.These substances have the advantage that, when spread in very low concentrations on small areas of the body, they have a lasting mild cooling effect throughout their period of activity.
This kind of sensory cooling textile finish was tested on different textile substrates made from natural or synthetic fibres and blends, and in concentrations of the active ingredient ranging from 0.1‰ – 1%.