Researchers in China have developed a lightweight, breathable and biodegradable fabric that reflects 96% of the sun’s rays in outdoor conditions, lowering skin temperature by 2°C under direct sunlight and by 3.8°C at night compared with bare skin.
Research + Methodology: Partnering with researchers from Zhengzhou University, UniSA (University of South Australia) materials scientist Professor Jun Ma from the Future Industries Institute has helped to create the moisture-wicking composite fabric that used a scalable electrospinning technique. This entailed embedding boron nitride nanosheets – highly thermally conductive, lightweight particles – within a biodegradable polylactic acid fibre matrix.
The result was a white, nanostructured fabric with high solar reflectance and five times more breathability than cotton.
The combination of high solar reflectance, heat radiation and moisture control means that the wearer feels noticeably cooler and drier.
It will be particularly beneficial for people who work outdoors in construction, mining, agriculture or emergency services, where heat exposure is both a comfort and safety issue.
>The research was published in the journal Nano Research.
Looking ahead: The team is now exploring potential commercial applications and large-scale manufacturing opportunities. The researchers believe the technology could be easily adapted for sportswear, uniforms, outdoor workers, and even military and emergency clothing designed for extreme heat.
The electrospinning process is straightforward and cost effective, which means the fabric could be produced at industrial scale. With further development, it has the potential to transform the next generation of cooling clothing.
WHAT THEY SAID:
We’re seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves globally, and that has serious implications for outdoor workers, athletes and people living without access to air conditioning. Our goal was to design a smart, sustainable fabric that passively regulates body temperature – not by using energy, but by harnessing natural physical processes.
— Jun Ma
Professor / Materials Scientist
University of South Australia (UniSA) / Future Industries Institute
The collaboration with UniSA was instrumental in testing and refining the material’s thermal performance. UniSA’s advanced materials expertise helped us evaluate the heat transfer and radiative cooling properties of the fabric. The partnership shows how international collaboration can accelerate the development of smart, sustainable materials.
— Yamin Pan
Lead Author / Associate Professor
Zhengzhou University
