新複合フィルムで暑さ指数（体感温度）を約40％ダウン New composite film brings down the heat index or ‘felt air temperature’ by about 40%
2022-03-25 シンガポール国立大学
・この発明は、シンガポールのHTX（Home Team Science & Technology Agency）の研究者と共同で実施した実験室試験によって検証された。
・この新しい乾燥剤フィルムは、生体適合性と毒性がなく、速い吸収速度、高い吸収容量、優れた機械的特性を有している。
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.nus.edu.sg/breakthrough-application-of-moisture-trapping-film-from-nus-to-reduce-heat-stress-in-personal-protective-suits/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.202107636
蒸発性発汗制御と熱ストレス管理のための可逆的水和複合フィルム Reversible Hydration Composite Films for Evaporative Perspiration Control and Heat Stress Management
Jiachen Yang,Xueping Zhang,J. Justin Koh,Rensheng Deng,Saravana Kumarasamy,Yuan Xing Xu,Hao Qu,Songlin Zhang,Yaoxin Zhang,Swee Ching Tan
First published: 20 February 2022
新しい水分捕捉フィルムを防護服に取り付けると、熱指数が約40％低下し、熱射病の可能性が大幅に低下する可能性があります。
Abstract
Donning of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the healthcare sector has been intensified by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic around the globe. While extensive PPE provides protection, it typically limits moisture permeability and severely hinders the sweat evaporation process, resulting in greater heat stress on the personnel. Herein, a zinc-poly(vinyl alcohol) (Zn-PVA) composite film is fabricated by embedding a super-hygroscopic zinc-ethanolamine complex (Zn-complex) in the PVA matrix. By attaching the Zn-PVA composite film, the relative humidity (RH) inside the protective suit decreases from 91.0% to 48.2%. The reduced RH level, in turn, enhances evaporative cooling, hence bringing down the heat index from 64.6 to 40.0 °C at an air temperature of 35 °C, remarkably lowering the likelihood of heat stroke. The American Society for Testing and Materials tests conducted on a sweating manikin have also proven that the Zn-PVA composite films can significantly reduce the evaporative resistance of the protective suit by 90%. The low material cost, facile fabrication process, and reusability allow the Zn-PVA composition films to be readily available for healthcare workers worldwide. This application can be further extended to other occupations that are facing severe thermal discomfort and heat stress.
