Thermal Effects of Microwave Reduced-Graphene-Oxide Coated Polyester Fabric on a Simulated Human Skin in Cool and Neutral Air Temperatures

Abstract

Batteryless wearable technology has wide applications. In particular, human body surface temperature controlling fabrics can help regulate skin temperature in heat or cold. This study investigated surface temperature distribution of the fabrics coated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on simulated human body skin conditions at 18 °C (cool) and 27 °C (neutral) ambient air temperatures. Polyester fabrics were spin-coated with a graphene-oxide (GO) solution of 0.2 wt%. Preparation of rGO was processed by using a microwave oven (MW-rGO). Non-treated fabric (CON) was compared to GO and MW-rGO. The surface temperature of a hot plate was maintained at 35 °C or 40 °C. The test fabrics were put on the heated hot plate or non-heated-outer portions of the hot plate. Surface temperatures of MW-rGO on the heated hot plate at an air temperature of 18 °C (cool) were higher than those of non-treated fabric (CON) under the same conditions (p < 0.01). No effects from the graphene treatment were found on non-heated portions of the graphene oxide fabric (GO) or the reduced graphene oxide fabric (MW-rGO). On the non-heated portions, surface temperatures were higher at the location closer to the hot plate compared to the location farther from the hot plate (p < 0.05). These results partially represent thermal effects of MW-rGO under a specific environment and heat source. Our findings enable an application of reduced graphene oxide to body temperature regulating clothing.