A new “smart” fabric technology, that absorbs and stores excess body heat to create a cooling effect and releases it when needed to provide additional warmth, is being trialled by Ford and General Motors.
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Originally developed for NASA for use in space exploration and widely used in consumer products such as sportswear and bedding, so-called ‘smart fabric technology’ is now being considered by the automakers for use in vehicle seating.
Smart fabric technology is making its debut on Tuesday at the 2004 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
Ford will show the fabric on the seats of a 2005 Mustang GTR and General Motors will have it on the seats of a Pontiac GTO.
Automotive supplier Shawmut Corporation and Outlast Technologies, which holds the patent rights on this unique application to fibres and fabrics, are collaborating to bring the technology to automotive seating.
In collaboration with Outlast, Shawmut developed proprietary application processes for automotive seating. Since 1994, multiple joint patents have been issued for proprietary application processes that coat fabrics and foams with ‘PCM thermocules’.
Instead of relying on active controls common to most automotive seating thermal management systems today, the technology uses phase-change material (PCM), called ‘thermocules’, to balance temperature.
The thermocules within the seat absorb and store excess heat when it is created, and releases it back to the occupant when it is needed most. This cooling and warming cycle helps keep the occupant from being too hot or too cold. By buffering temperature and humidity fluctuations, the technology automatically helps the occupant adapt to the environment and stay more comfortable.
As a result, the smart fabric technology is claimed to provide excellent comfort control without the added cost and complexity typical of most “active” heating/cooling systems.
Developed for NASA by Triangle Research & Development, Outlast Technologies acquired the patent rights for incorporating phase-change technology in fibres and fabrics in 1991.
Since then, Outlast has developed applications for the consumer goods market and currently offers numerous products containing smart fabric technology to the outdoor sports, casual apparel, footwear, bedding and accessories markets.
