Sweater changes color under the sun

Instead of wearing the same old clothes, you can go to the sun to " coat " another color for your shirt, thanks to the latest technology from Australian researchers. Accordingly, they have developed a woolen suit that can change colors in the sun and prevent harmful ultraviolet rays.

Prior to that, people had developed color-changing glass and cotton products, this is the first color imaging technology applied on wool.

Tong Cheng, a doctoral dissertation student at Deakin University, created a polymer mixed with dye to create color. This mixture will be used to create color for wool. Polymers also absorb harmful ultraviolet rays and increase the sun's ability to protect the sun's rays.

The group has developed a silica polymer, which contains a lot of nano holes containing dye molecules. When the dyed fiber is exposed to the sun, the molecules change their structure and alter the color of the wool. So far, the group has created white fabric that turns blue and red.

"Nano holes are the key to success," said Rex Brady , "if they are too big, they should be of medium size ."

The color change process must be rapid enough to protect from the sun's rays, as they have been achieved in about 2-3 seconds.

Cheng says this particular wool looks nothing like the other wool products. "It's not possible to recognize the difference between conventional wool and polymeric wool, but it retains its softness and color retention when it is washed."

Cheng says she will continue to research to create sweaters that show patterns only when worn outdoors or under certain lighting conditions.

MT