Cool Clothing
Automated lightweight heat transfer fabric that captures and removes heat from a wearers body, preventing heat stress in hazardous occupations and in athletes.
Heat stress is a significant danger in many occupations, potentially causing heat related injuries, organ failure and even death. Heat stress is even more of a danger in occupations requiring the use of protective equipment (fire service, military, mining etc). With heat stress considered to be one of the most common and potentially serious illnesses at many worksites, the market for 'smart' fabrics is growing from a current value of US$642 million at a compound annual growth rate of between 18 and 25%.
This invention solves the heat stress problem through the use of low weight, efficient cooling devices combined with micro-pumping to create lightweight 'smart' clothing. It has significant advantages over existing bulky products such as ice-vests as it is reusable, has a longer usable life and can be worn underneath the protective equipment that is required by many professions.
This product has been developed in collaboration between the WA Centre of Excellence for Micro Photonic Systems and the School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences at ECU. Intellectual property protection is being sought, a bench-top prototype has been completed and the research team is now working towards creation of a complete garment that meets hazardous occupation requirements.