Self Cleaning Underwear
January 6th 2007 10:26
Boffins working at the US air force have created self cleaning fabric that has been put to good use with underwear.
The only industry that could benefit more from the underwear manufacturers would be the sports underwear manufacturers. Its that big a discovery.
Like all good cutting edge tech the whole idea of self cleaning fabric revolves around nano particles. Nanoparticles are sprinkled over the fabric using microwaves after which chemicals that directly repel bacteria (detergent?) water (oil perhaps?) and oil (water maybe?) are bound to the nanoparticles.
This kills bacteria on clothing and forces water and oil to bead off rather than soak the fabric.
Diagram of how it works:
The U.S. military spent a good $20 million developing this technology to protect soldiers from their own biological weaponry however they have found better uses for it in the sporting underwear industry where it is expected to make them countless billions in royalties.
The only industry that could benefit more from the underwear manufacturers would be the sports underwear manufacturers. Its that big a discovery.
Like all good cutting edge tech the whole idea of self cleaning fabric revolves around nano particles. Nanoparticles are sprinkled over the fabric using microwaves after which chemicals that directly repel bacteria (detergent?) water (oil perhaps?) and oil (water maybe?) are bound to the nanoparticles.
This kills bacteria on clothing and forces water and oil to bead off rather than soak the fabric.
Diagram of how it works:
Click to Enlarge
The U.S. military spent a good $20 million developing this technology to protect soldiers from their own biological weaponry however they have found better uses for it in the sporting underwear industry where it is expected to make them countless billions in royalties.
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Comment by katyzzz
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Would not the underwear still need washing later? to remove the nonoparticles and their attachments?
katyzzz
Comment by Ahmed
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Comment by Ashish
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Comment by Ahmed
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Comment by Ash
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Flashes of memories
Comment by Lilla
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Imagine all that sweat on the INSIDE of my cottons?
.. where does it go?
... living in Queensland, trust me, it sounds pretty yuk to me ... besides, the sweat on my clothes in summer is the only thing to catch the breeze and cool me...
and god knows what all those chemicals will do to me, later ...*twitch, twitch*
no thanks,
great post!
Lilla
Comment by Ashish
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@Lila : agreeed..i cant even think of repeating it lol
Comment by Always Eighteen
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Comment by Ahmed
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Also worth noting is that they aren't harmful chemicals, nanoparticles aren't inherintly harmful and the water and oil phobic chemicals are probably quite safe too. remember the intent of this new material was to protect people against chemicles, would be ironic if the chemicles on the fbaric killed people.
Comment by Lilla
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..bear with me, I'm a little foggy today, it's getting hot in Queensland...
I get all that stuff you're saying, but I cannot think of where the water is diverted too. Will my cottons have little aqueducts in them, like still-suit tubes in DUNE, something useful to reclaim the water?
My point is, where does all that sweat go - and in queensland summer we're talking about 1 litre per hour in February? Not a small feat of drainage my friend as you can feel the sweat running down your back and we shower up here about three times a day...
Where does it go?
\thanks, melting ..
:Lio;;a
Comment by Ahmed
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My best guess is that it will feel like you're wearing something save for the fact that all the sweat will simply fall out eventually. Like, imagine running around naked, where does the sweat go?
This is only my best guess btw, I'm no aeronitical engineer.
Comment by Lilla
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it still makes no sense at all becuase it has to permeate the cloth in order to reach the air, in order to evaporate.
I should iamgine that being stuck on the inside of the cloth, would feel more like wearing cling wrap, than nothing at all, wouldn't it?
Whilst I do know of the Simpsons, I don't watch TV shows as such, and so I don't know about flanders and homer's holiday vacation, sorry.
Lilla
Comment by Ahmed
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Heres the scene btw:
Comment by Lilla
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I get it now, the water runs through the cloth and down the outside... so we would see the sweat on the outside of people's shirts - say - like you do on someone's forehead...
Hmmm, it may have merit in certain circumstances, yes especially around sport, but I'm not sure on fashion though?
Thanks Ahmed, for the trouble you've gone too... and your patience, in explaining it to me.
Caio
Lilla...
Comment by Ahmed
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I agree that apart from sporting uses it doesn't really have a feasible application which is probably why it is being targetted at sports clothing.
Comment by Ahmed
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I agree that apart from sporting uses it doesn't really have a feasible application which is probably why it is being targetted at sports clothing.
Comment by katyzzz
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In your original text you mentioned things being "bound" to the nanoparticles, no need to reply, just wanted to point this out.
katyzzz
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Comment by Bhumika
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