UYARLANABİLİR KONFOR ÖZELLİKLERİNE SAHİP PASİF GÜNDÜZ SOĞUTUCU PAMUKLU KUMAŞLAR

Abstract

Passive daytime radiative cooling materials have attracted increasing attention due to their great potential for energy saving and the possibility to meet the need for smart clothes. However, the practical application of passive daytime cooling material in the textile industry is greatly affected by comfort components and also physical/mechanical properties that require optimization. Herein, it was aimed to develop a thermoregulating fabric using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO), which provide dynamic and passive control of the infrared transmission, by adapting to the ambient temperature. For this aim, the cotton fabric was coated with a nanocomposite treatment composed of ZnO nanoparticles and temperature-responsive shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) matrix, obtaining strong scattering effects to control the wideband transmission of thermal radiation and also adaptive comfort features based on shape memory function. By reflecting sunlight of SMPU-ZnO nanocomposite coating, the cotton fabric can reach an average temperature drop of ∼ 2.2°C and 0.4°C compared to the raw ones under direct sunlight and also indoor at 40°C, respectively. Also, SMPU and SMPU-ZnO nanocomposite coated cotton fabric exhibited dynamic air and water vapour permeability hence adaptive comfort features. Owing to passive cooling and also adaptive comfort features besides the simple production process, this smart fabric is promising to be widely used in sports or protective clothing areas.