Govt plans phase-changing clothing tech to tackle India’s climate woes

The PCM-based textiles will be especially beneficial for army personnel working in extreme weather conditions.

The textiles ministry is developing technology that will allow the same set of clothes to be worn in all seasons, saving you the periodic hassle of packing away clothes. This all-weather clothing, a result of collaboration between the ministry and premier tech and fashion institutes, has a slightly cumbersome name: indigenous encapsulated phase change material (PCM)-based activewear.

This initiative aims to provide a versatile solution to India’s varying weather patterns, enhancing comfort and reducing the need for multiple sets of clothing for different weather conditions and environments. PCM has found use in various fields of technical textiles, including sports, homewear, and protective textiles.

The PCM-based textiles will be especially beneficial for army personnel working in extreme weather conditions, from the cold climate of Jammu & Kashmir to the scorching heat of Rajasthan, Telangana, Bihar, and other states across the country.

PCMs are substances that release or absorb significant amounts of energy during phase transitions, typically between solid and liquid states. These transitions enable PCMs to efficiently absorb and release thermal energy, making them highly effective for temperature control. By incorporating PCMs into clothing, garments can maintain an optimal temperature, providing warmth in cold conditions and a cooling effect in hot environments.

The technology is noted for its efficiency, as PCMs can absorb much more heat with less material compared to conventional materials, which rely on more heat and require greater volume to store the same amount of energy.

News source: Mint