Scientists at the University of South Australia have teamed up with researchers from Zhengzhou University in China to create a lightweight, breathable fabric that reflects 96 per cent of the sun’s rays in outdoor conditions.
The fabric innovation comes as global temperatures rise and heatwaves intensify.
UniSA materials scientist Professor Jun Ma led the project, with the fabric tested in outdoor settings. Tests shows the textile lowered skin temperature by two degrees celsius under direct sunlight and by 3.8 degrees celsius at night compared with bare skin.
Unlike traditional cotton fabrics, which tend to trap heat and sweat, UniSA and Zhengzhou University reported that the polylactic acid/boron nitride nanosheet (PLA/BNNS) material actively releases warmth while keeping the skin dry.
Professor Ma, from UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, said the project addresses a critical challenge in personal comfort as the world adapts to rising heat stress.
“We’re seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves globally, and that has serious implications for outdoor workers, athletes and people living without access to air conditioning,” Prof Ma said.
“Our goal was to design a smart, sustainable fabric that passively regulates body temperature – not by using energy, but by harnessing natural physical processes.”
Using a scalable electrospinning technique, the researchers embedded boron nitride nanosheets – highly thermally conductive, lightweight particles – within a biodegradable polylactic acid fibre matrix. The result is a white, nanostructured fabric with exceptional solar reflectance and five times more breathability than cotton.
“The combination of high solar reflectance, heat radiation and moisture control means that the wearer feels noticeably cooler and drier,” Ma said.
“It’s particularly beneficial for people who work outdoors in construction, mining, agriculture or emergency services, where heat exposure is both a comfort and safety issue.”
The study’s lead author, Associate Professor Yamin Pan from Zhengzhou University, said the collaboration with UniSA was instrumental in testing and refining the material’s thermal performance.
“UniSA’s advanced materials expertise helped us evaluate the heat transfer and radiative cooling properties of the fabric,” Pan said. “The partnership shows how international collaboration can accelerate the development of smart, sustainable materials.”
Made primarily from biodegradable PLA, the fabric also aligns with the global shift towards environmentally responsible materials.
The researchers believe the technology could be easily adapted for sportswear, uniforms, outdoor workers, and even military and emergency clothing designed for extreme heat.
Ma said the team is now exploring potential commercial applications and large-scale manufacturing opportunities.
“The electrospinning process is straightforward and cost-effective, which means the fabric could be produced at an industrial scale,” he said. “With further development, it has the potential to transform the next generation of cooling clothing.”