There’s no denying that heat-related illness directly impacts the drilling and construction industries. Working out in the sun on labor-intensive jobs in PPE can be incredibly taxing, and with more cases of heat exhaustion popping up every Summer, it’s no wonder why solutions are the main focus of many problem-solvers and climate activists nationwide.
However, one recent revolution may be exactly what the doctor ordered. According to a breakthrough by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the solution to heat waves and the illnesses that stem from them may just be in the clothes our boots-on-the-ground workers wear on the job.
What these researchers discovered may also be the most cost-effective solution as, instead of replacing PPE, it would simply be added on top of it. A flexible chalk-based coating of this solution found impressive results for those who donned it. According to CNN, “During tests in scorching summer heat, they found it reduced the temperature underneath clothes by up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the air, and by up to 15 degrees compared to untreated fabrics.” This substance can even be placed in a washing machine and remain intact without disturbing the weight or breathability of the fabrics it is placed on.
The initial inspiration for this substance came from the limestone plaster coatings used to cool homes in warmer climates like California. When analyzed, the data showed that this material not only reflected the sun’s harmful rays outward but also helped heat escape from the wearer’s body. As Trisha L. Andrew, a chemist and materials scientist at UMass explained, ““The coating is entirely surface level. It does not penetrate or change the cotton fibers.”
The team plans to continue researching what they define as “radiative cooling” in hopes of being able to offer these substances to outdoor professionals on a mass scale in the near future. One of the current main concerns these researchers face is using PFAS to develop these materials. In the past, PFAS has served as a cooling agent for homes and clothing in various tests. Still, they may be able to see similar results free from PFAS with the use of titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, or polyvinylidene difluoride.
As chemistry graduate student Evan D. Patamia furthers, “What makes our technique unique is that we can do this on nearly any commercially available fabric and turn it into something that can keep people cool. Without any power input, we’re able to reduce how hot a person feels, which could be a valuable resource where people are struggling to stay cool in extremely hot environments.”
For the workers out in the field during the Summer months, these substances could serve as a solution for heat dispersion without costing companies or leaders additional costs on the current PPE and work uniforms these professionals wear in the field. This may even become a material found in every first aid kit in the near future, and if these researchers can develop solutions free from PFAS, it may become the status quo on a global scale for heat reduction in every field.