Phys.org July 13, 2021 An international team of researchers (USA – North Carolina State University, Germany) has developed a mathematical model for fabric barriers that resist bites from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes based on textile physical structure and no insecticides. The model was derived from mosquito morphometrics and analysis of mosquito biting behavior. Woven filter fabrics, precision polypropylene plates, and knitted fabrics were used for model validation. Based on the model predictions, prototype knitted textiles and garments were developed that prevented mosquito biting, and comfort testing showed the garments to possess superior thermophysiological properties. The fabrics provided a three-times greater bite […]
Category Archives: Smart textiles
New textile could keep you cool in the heat, warm in the cold
Phys.org April 1, 2020 Researchers in China freeze-spun silk and chitosan, a material from the hard outer skeleton of shellfish, into colored fibers with porous microstructures. They filled the pores with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a phase-changing polymer that absorbs and releases thermal energy. The threads were coated with polydimethylsiloxane to keep the liquid PEG from leaking out. The resulting fibers were strong, flexible, and water-repellent. To test the fibers, the researchers wove them into a patch of fabric and put inside a polyester glove. When a person wearing the glove placed their hand in a hot chamber (122°F), the solid […]