Wearing a vest made of it can keep you cool even in a high temperature of 50℃! It can also be used to cool down the car!

In recent years, extreme weather has occurred frequently around the world, and high temperatures have become an increasingly severe challenge.
In this extreme outdoor environment, people who engage in outdoor activities and work are facing the threat of high temperatures, which can even endanger their lives. Therefore, an efficient and portable thermal protection solution is urgently needed for outdoor workers.

At present, personal wearable cooling technologies on the market mostly reduce heat absorption by enhancing the reflection of short-wave solar radiation by textiles, such as anti-ultraviolet clothing or sun hats. These technologies can provide a cooling effect of 1-10℃ in mild environments, but they are prone to failure in extreme high temperatures above 40℃, and may even aggravate heat accumulation on the body surface.

The magic of water: the scientific basis of evaporative cooling
Water is a natural coolant, and its high evaporation enthalpy enables it to absorb a large amount of heat during evaporation. Simply put, when water changes from liquid to gas, it absorbs heat from the surrounding environment, thereby lowering the ambient temperature.

The principle of this process is widely used in cooling in nature and daily life. For example, when you feel the heat unbearable in the hot summer, you must have tried to cool down by splashing cold water on your body. This method is frequently used by everyone from ordinary people to professional athletes. When running under the scorching sun, marathon runners often wet a towel with water to wipe their skin, or pour water directly on their bodies to reduce body temperature through evaporation and relieve the pressure of the heat on the body.

However, this method also has obvious limitations – water evaporates quickly and it is difficult to maintain a cooling effect for a long time. So, is there a way to fix water for a long time and effectively play the role of evaporation and cooling?

Breaking through limitations: hydrogel makes cooling more lasting and more comfortable
This new wearable hydrogel is based on a multi-level pore structure design, combining the excellent properties of superhydrophobic aerogel particles and water, and has the characteristics of lightness, dryness, and toughness. More importantly, it can achieve efficient evaporative cooling and radiative cooling functions in extremely high temperature environments. In addition, this material has the following advantages:

Long-lasting cooling: In the traditional cooling method of pouring water, the water evaporates in a short time, while the hydrogel material gradually releases water through its porous structure, which can achieve a cooling effect of up to 15 hours.

Comfort and portability: Compared with direct watering or wet towels, the hydrogel material is dry and soft, and the temperature is always maintained at around 36°C when in contact with the skin, which will not cause cold discomfort.

Efficient cooling: Under direct sunlight, the surface temperature of this material is 22.5°C lower than the ambient temperature, providing reliable protection for users in extremely high temperature environments.

Easy to mass produce: The material preparation method is simple, the raw materials used are common industrial products, and the production cost is low.

Large-scale preparation display

From daily to extreme environments: Technology makes high temperatures no longer terrible
In terms of personal protection, it can be made into wearable cooling vests, etc., for outdoor workers to prevent heatstroke and cool down. In terms of space cooling, it can be used as a cover for cooling equipment. In the experiment, the internal temperature of the car model covered with this material was 32.1°C lower than that of the uncovered method. What is even more amazing is that under the extremely high temperature of about 50℃ in the Kumtag Desert, this hydrogel material can reduce the high temperature of 68℃ on the surface of the sand by nearly 30℃, demonstrating its strong potential in extreme environments.

This new hydrogel material has broad application prospects in personal protection and space cooling. For example:

Anti-heat weapon for outdoor workers: Construction workers, farmers, couriers and other groups exposed to the sun for a long time can wear vests or hats made of hydrogel to effectively reduce the risk of heat stroke.

A secret weapon for athletes: Marathon runners, golfers, and even casual running enthusiasts can reduce the decline in physical fitness caused by high temperatures and improve their athletic performance by wearing hydrogel clothing.

Portable “air conditioner” for travelers: Outdoor hikers or campers can use hydrogel vests or mats to keep cool in hot weather and improve their travel experience.

Car sun protection: Use hydrogel materials as car covers to cover the car body to reduce the temperature rise inside the car.

Post-disaster emergency: Provide portable cooling equipment for areas hit by extreme high temperature disasters to ensure the safety of residents.

Industrial cooling: Replace traditional refrigeration equipment in special scenarios and provide green and environmentally friendly cooling solutions.

Looking to the future: The last step towards daily application
Although the current research results are exciting, there is still room for further optimization of the performance of wearable hydrogels, such as improving the durability of evaporative cooling, enhancing comfort, and increasing reusability.

I believe that in the near future, this wearable hydrogel will enter the homes of ordinary people and bring us a more comfortable summer experience!