A 3D-printed fibre woven into clothes that can cool down wearers has been developed at the University of Maryland College Park. Think moisture-wicking workout wear, smell-proof athletic gear, and outfits that block ultraviolet rays via chemical coatings. The new material, which is made from a polymer called polydimethylsiloxane, or PDSI, was created by printing it onto fabric and then weaving it around individual fibres to create an insulating fabric. They combined boron nitride with polyvinyl alcohol to develop the nanocomposite thread, which is twice as efficient at cooling down wearers as cotton fabrics. The fabric could reduce the need for air-conditioning and so contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
A 3D-printed fibre woven into clothes that can cool down wearers has been developed at the University of Maryland College Park. The new material, which is made from a polymer called polydimethylsiloxane, or PDSI, was created by printing it onto fabric and then weaving it around individual fibres to create an insulating fabric. They combined boron nitride with polyvinyl alcohol to develop the nanocomposite thread, which is twice as efficient at cooling down wearers as cotton fabrics. The fabric could reduce the need for air-conditioning and so contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.