Phys.org March 3, 2020
An international team of researchers (USA -UC San Diego, Singapore) has developed a proof-of-concept device that has a surface that cools down or heats up to match ambient temperatures, camouflaging the wearer’s body heat. The surface can go from 10 to 38 degrees Celsius (50 to 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in less than a minute. They used phase-changing material that’s like wax but with more complex properties. The melting point of the material is 30 degrees Celsius (roughly 86 degrees F), the same temperature as the surface temperature of human skin. The outside layer of the device is made of thermoelectric alloys sandwiched between stretchy elastomer sheets. It is powered by a battery and controlled by a wireless circuit board. Potential applications include security, counter‐surveillance, and adaptive heat shielding and thermal control. The researchers are working to reduce the weight and other issues…read more. Video TECHNICAL ARTICLE
The device has a surface that quickly cools down or heats up to match ambient temperatures, camouflaging the wearer’s body heat. Credit: University of California San Diego