New fabric can heat up more than 50 degrees to keep people warm in ultracold weather

There have been a lot of revolutionary fabrics developed over the years, but this might just be among the most unique. 

Scientists have invented a smart fabric that converts light into heat and can raise temperatures by more than 54 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) after just 10 minutes in the sun. The new material could be used in clothing designed for very cold temperatures.

Specialized nanoparticles that absorb sunlight and convert it to heat are embedded within the new material. At the same time, temperature-responsive dyes incorporated into the fibers reversibly change color, allowing users to visually monitor temperature fluctuations.

Of course, there are already many items of clothing such as jackets, socks, and vests that heat up and warm the wearer, but those typically use some type of battery and wiring system. 

To get around these problems, chemical engineer Yuning Li and his team at the University of Waterloo in Canada looked to photothermal polymers, which are plastic-like materials that convert light into heat.

Nanoparticles of the two polymers — polyaniline (PANI) and polydopamine (PDA) — are embedded within a matrix of thermoplastic polyurethane (PTU) fibers, a material widely used to produce waterproof clothing and sportswear. The team also incorporated various temperature-responsive (thermochromic) dyes into the mix during the spinning process, producing a series of fibers that changed color as the temperature of the material increased.

These newly spun fibers were readily woven into fabric and the team knitted a tiny sweater for a teddy bear to test the properties of the smart material. The red jumper reached an impressive 128.3 F (53.5 C) after just 10 minutes of sun exposure. As the temperature climbed, the red dye molecules changed chemical structure, causing them to turn white.

Of course, new fabrics must undergo a variety of testing before they can come to market, and this new smart fabric is no exception. And that's how Intertek can help companies using their science based, total quality assurance expertise.

Intertek’s textile and apparel industry services helps retailers, brands and manufacturers uphold quality and safety while ensuring consumer confidence and brand loyalty. The third-party test company performs textile testing on items ranging from fabric samples to finished products, and helps their customers go beyond regulatory requirements to consistently meet consumer demand for high quality, minimize reputational risk, reduce environmental impacts and protect the interests of retailers, brands, textile manufacturers and consumer safety.