Textiles developed which shield against radiation
Scientists at the Hohenstein Institute in Germany, in partnership with the ITCF Denkendorf, have developed the world's first textiles which effectively screen out both electromagnetic (EM) and infrared (IR) radiation.
Until now, textile materials have only offered a choice of protection, either from the so-called ‘electrosmog’ caused by electrical devices, or from thermal radiation, for example from sources of fire or intensive solar radiation.
The artificial fibres are given their screening effect either by dosing or by coating them with indium tin oxide (ITO), a transparent oxide compound which is also used in the touchscreens of smart phones. In tests, the textile treatment proved to be resistant to washing, abrasion and weathering. It was also possible to prove that the treatment was not biologically harmful – and nor were the garments made uncomfortable to wear.
Project leader Dr Edith Classen believes the innovative fabric will be used primarily for occupational clothing. "These novel materials are not only extremely effective at screening radiation but they also conduct electricity so they are anti-static,” she said. “This makes them ideal for use in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for firemen, workers in foundries and welding workshops, in the semiconductor industry or for maintenance staff working on telecommunications systems."
However, Dr Classen can also see many potential applications in domestic and technical textile products. "You could imagine making roller blinds which not only screen out solar radiation in summer to keep the room cool, but at the same time also offer protection from the electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone masts in the vicinity."
These multifunctional materials may well also be of interest to the military: if used for uniforms, they make the wearer ‘invisible’ to infrared cameras while also offering protection from electromagnetic radiation.
