Work

Assessing Radiative Cooling Textiles for Extreme Thermal Conditions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Global warming necessitates energy-efficient thermal management solutions, and radiative cooling has emerged as a promising strategy for buildings and wearable applications. Despite significant advancements, the efficacy of these materials under extreme heat conditions remains underexplored. Here, we present a passive radiative daytime cooling (PDRC) -coated high-performance textile based on glass fiber (GF), carbon fiber (CF), and Kevlar (KV), integrating superior optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Our experiments demonstrate that these textiles achieve high solar reflectivity (93-97%) and infrared emissivity (95-96%), enabling an average 8.3°C of cooling under sunlight compared to cotton. Additionally, these coated textiles offer exceptional durability, maintaining performance under various environmental stressors with minimal degradation. Analytical modeling, combined with experiment testing, further underscores the critical role of high near infrared reflectance in high-temperature environments like fire, providing important insights for extending their applicability to personal protective equipment, emergency wearables, and structural thermal management in extreme conditions.

Source: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics

DOI: 10.1109/jstqe.2025.3567021

Authors: Diya Patel, Pranto Karua, Kai Zhou, Lili Cai

Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Language: English

Topic: Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,645

Funder: Office of Naval Research