Polyethylene (PE) has emerged recently as a promising polymer for incorporation in wearable textiles owing to its high infrared transparency and tuneable visible opacity, which allows the human body to cool via thermal radiation, potentially saving energy on building refrigeration. Here, we show that single-material PE fabrics may offer a sustainable, high-performance alternative to conventional textiles, extending beyond radiative cooling. PE fabrics exhibit ultra-light weight, low material cost and recyclability. Industrial materials sustainability (Higg) index calculations predict a low environmental footprint for PE fabrics in the production phase. We engineered PE fibres, yarns and fabrics to achieve efficient water wicking and fast-drying performance which, combined with their excellent stain resistance, offer promise in reducing energy and water consumption as well as the environmental footprint of PE textiles in their use phase. Unlike previously explored nanoporous PE materials, the high-performance PE fabrics in this study are made from fibres melt spun and woven on standard equipment used by the textile industry worldwide and do not require any chemical coatings. We further demonstrate that these PE fibres can be dry coloured during fabrication, resulting in dramatic water savings without masking the PE molecular fingerprints scanned during the automated recycling process.
Sustainable polyethylene fabrics with engineered moisture transport for passive cooling / Alberghini, M.; Hong, S.; Lozano, L. M.; Korolovych, V.; Huang, Y.; Signorato, F.; Zandavi, S. H.; Fucetola, C.; Uluturk, I.; Tolstorukov, M. Y.; Chen, G.; Asinari, P.; Osgood, R. M.; Fasano, M.; Boriskina, S. V.. - In: NATURE SUSTAINABILITY. - ISSN 2398-9629. - ELETTRONICO. - (2021). [10.1038/s41893-021-00688-5]
Sustainable polyethylene fabrics with engineered moisture transport for passive cooling
Alberghini M.;Signorato F.;Asinari P.;Fasano M.;
2021
Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) has emerged recently as a promising polymer for incorporation in wearable textiles owing to its high infrared transparency and tuneable visible opacity, which allows the human body to cool via thermal radiation, potentially saving energy on building refrigeration. Here, we show that single-material PE fabrics may offer a sustainable, high-performance alternative to conventional textiles, extending beyond radiative cooling. PE fabrics exhibit ultra-light weight, low material cost and recyclability. Industrial materials sustainability (Higg) index calculations predict a low environmental footprint for PE fabrics in the production phase. We engineered PE fibres, yarns and fabrics to achieve efficient water wicking and fast-drying performance which, combined with their excellent stain resistance, offer promise in reducing energy and water consumption as well as the environmental footprint of PE textiles in their use phase. Unlike previously explored nanoporous PE materials, the high-performance PE fabrics in this study are made from fibres melt spun and woven on standard equipment used by the textile industry worldwide and do not require any chemical coatings. We further demonstrate that these PE fibres can be dry coloured during fabrication, resulting in dramatic water savings without masking the PE molecular fingerprints scanned during the automated recycling process.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
s41893-021-00688-5.pdf
non disponibili
Descrizione: Main text, editorial post-print
Tipologia:
2a Post-print versione editoriale / Version of Record
Licenza:
Non Pubblico - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione
2.93 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
2.93 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
41893_2021_688_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
accesso aperto
Descrizione: Supplementary Information
Tipologia:
2a Post-print versione editoriale / Version of Record
Licenza:
PUBBLICO - Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione
33.64 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
33.64 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
Sustainable polyethylene fabrics_postprint.pdf
Open Access dal 16/09/2021
Descrizione: Main text, author post-print
Tipologia:
2. Post-print / Author's Accepted Manuscript
Licenza:
PUBBLICO - Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione
1.94 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
1.94 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2907134