Chalk-coated fabric to keep you cool

The new, treated material is inexpensive and sustainable

Spotted: The continuous rise of global temperatures has, among other things, impacted how we dress. This goes beyond just opting for shorts over a pair of trousers, more and more textile innovators are also exploring the application of ‘cooling’ fabrics to help consumers dress comfortably despite the heat. Included in this trend is a research team at the University of Massachusetts. 

Effective cooling fabric needs to perform two things: deflect the sun’s heat and allow the body’s natural heat to escape. Taking inspiration from the way homes are built in warmer climates, the university researchers found that calcium carbonate (the main component in limestone and chalk) and bio-compatible barium sulphate will enable both these functions to occur. The scientists then employed a proprietary method to incorporate both compounds into a polymer coating, which can be used to treat fabric like cotton and synthetic fibre. 

Initial tests showed promising results. On a day with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, the scientists found that air under the treated fabric was 4.5 degrees Celsius cooler than surrounding areas, and over 8 degrees Celsius cooler than air measured under ordinary, untreated fabric. Unlike previous attempts to develop cooling fabric using expensive polymers or toxic chemicals, this new method is scalable and environmentally friendly, as it uses cheap and naturally occurring materials.

So far, the team has been limited in its production capabilities because of the size of the lab equipment, but one of the researchers, Professor Trisha L. Andrew, is part of a startup that could enable pilot production of the cooling material on a bigger scale.

Written By: Joshua Solomon