The Swiss textile innovator HeiQ has launched an upgraded version of its popular dynamic cooling technology HeiQ Smart Temp. Based on an instant cooling hydro functional polymer, this patent pending technology provides activated cooling to the wearer for enhanced performance and thermal comfort. Inhouse thermoregulation performance measurements of a treated fabric revealed a 1.5°C to 2.5°C (2.7°F to 4.5°F) cooler skin temperature compared to an untreated fabric. During the Performance Days Munich, the upgraded HeiQ Smart Temp technology can be experienced on high-tech sports fabrics by Pontetorto and Tessitura Taiana Virgilio.
From its launch back in 2011 until today, the intelligent thermoregulation technology HeiQ Smart Temp has grown to one of the market leading dynamic cooling technologies. More than 50 major brands globally on more than 500 million garments use HeiQ’s most popular technology in their products spanning the application scope from basic apparel and sportswear to home textiles. HeiQ Smart Temp is used as the differentiating technology in Hanes’ X-Temp program, Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Second Skin range, Stance’s Feel 360 socks collection, Dickies’ Temp-iQ range and BekaertDeslee’s mattress ticking goods – just to name a few. This outstanding achievement spurred HeiQ’s research and development team on even more to move the previous product version to the next level.
Now, the Swiss textile innovator releases the new addition to the HeiQ Smart Temp family: HeiQ Adaptive AC-06. This patent pending technology version equips the sports enthusiast with activated cooling and enhanced performance and thermal comfort. Upgraded HeiQ Smart Temp interacts with the wearer, helping to lower the skin’s temperature when it needs it most. The innovation is based on an instant cooling hydro functional polymer that is activated when the skin temperature exceeds a range between 28°C and 32°C (82.4°F and 89.6°F) and deactivated once cooling is complete.
Inhouse thermoregulation performance testing has revealed high reduction rates of the skin temperature measured over a certain time by utilizing a thermal imaging infrared (FLIR) camera. The FLIR camera set-up imitated the human skin while sweating at different levels of activity. “In contrast to the Dynamic Evaporation testing, the FLIR camera measurement allows us to quickly though accurately visualize the temperature change of a fabric treated with HeiQ Smart Temp, for example compared to an untreated fabric sample,†says HeiQ’s Chief Technology Officer Walter Nassl.