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Functional cooling textiles use Basf's superabsorbent

26 May '17

3 min read

The functional cooling textiles of the E.COOLINE and IDENIXX brands, incorporating the specially developed superabsorbent nonwoven fabric from Basf, are offering a mobile air conditioning system which effectively supports the cooling system of the human body. These textiles are being used by athletes and workers worldwide in high temperatures.

Since the World Football Championship in 2014 in Brazil, functional cooling textiles have been used at many international sporting events worldwide. For example, the national football teams from Switzerland, Ireland and the US nowadays use these cooling vests and headgear to improve their recovery during the half-time interval or before energy-intensive extra time.

But not only top athletes are improving their health and performance with active functional cooling clothing. Many companies also use it to protect their employees from the hazards connected with overheating and overexertion.

The functional cooling textiles of the E.COOLINE and IDENIXX brands, incorporating the specially developed superabsorbent nonwoven fabric from Basf, offer a mobile air conditioning system to wear which effectively supports the cooling system of the human body. With these brands, the idea of mobile, simple and effective cooling has been successfully implemented and marketed. Apart from innovative materials, the environmentally friendly bionic system only requires water and the heat the user wants to get rid of anyway.

Cooling vests, for example, are easy to use and can be worn like any other item of clothing once being activated by “charging” with water. The water enters the active layer - the Luquafleece from BASF - after being rapidly absorbed and distributed through a bacteriostatic textile fabric.

“The fibres of this nonwoven fabric are coated with superabsorbent polymers (SAP) through a special technology. They absorb the water in a few seconds and retain it,” explains the expert Norbert Heidinger of Basf New Business, who markets the material.

Like a fishing net, the polymer network of the superabsorber traps increasing numbers of water particles until its elastic restoring forces compensate the osmotic forces of the prevailing concentration gradient. In this way Luquafleece can absorb ten times its weight in water and retain it so firmly, that the functional textiles are dry on the surface.

With higher outdoor temperatures or increasing skin temperature during sports or work activity, the water molecules firmly bound inside the functional cooling clothing absorb the thermal energy, evaporate from the large surface of the three-dimensional nonwoven structure and thereby cool down the wearer. The body sweats less and thereby saves energy that would usually be needed for thermoregulation. External cooling can therefore provide an increase in performance of up to ten per cent in hot conditions. Moreover, important body parameters - such as heart rate - are improved which protects health.

The functional clothing only cools the body to the extent required by the prevailing situation. The intensity of evaporative cooling adapts to the surrounding temperature and exertion. Thus no negative cooling effects can occur.

“After a while, you even don't notice the cooling anymore because the body is air-conditioned. You sweat less and thereby relieve the load on the cardiovascular system, metabolism and energy balance,” Gabriele Renner CEO of the manufacturing company “Pervormance International”, from Ulm (Germany), says. Depending on the outdoor and body temperature, the cooling effect persists for up to 20 hours - and any other clothing stays dry. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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