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Mechanism of heat transfer

Mechanism of heat transfer

Understanding heat transfer mechanisms is essential for understanding how our bodies maintain balance in different environmental conditions. When the environment is thermoneutral, the body is in a state of balance, neither using nor releasing energy to maintain its core temperature. However, when the environment is not thermoneutral, the body employs four heat transfer mechanisms to maintain homeostasis: conduction, convection, evaporation, and radiation. These mechanisms facilitate heat...

Thermal Stress

Thermal Stress

If the temperature of an object is changed while it is prevented from expanding or contracting, the object is subjected to stress. The stress is compressive if the object expands in the absence of constraint and tensile if it contracts. This stress resulting from temperature change is known as thermal stress. It can be quite large and can cause damage. To avoid this stress, engineers may design components so they can expand and contract freely. For instance, on highways, gaps are deliberately...

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II

In convection, thermal energy is carried by the large-scale flow of matter. Ocean currents and large-scale atmospheric circulation, which result from the buoyancy of warm air and water, transfer hot air from the tropics toward the poles and cold air from the poles toward the tropics. The Earth’s rotation interacts with those flows, causing the observed eastward flow of air in the temperate zones. Convection dominates heat transfer by air, and the amount of available space for the airflow...

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

Heat transfer between the human body and its environment occurs through four main mechanisms: conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation.
Conduction, accounting for approximately 3% of body heat loss at rest, is the process of exchanging heat between molecules of two materials in direct contact. This can result in both heat loss and gain. For instance, when the body is submerged in water, which conducts heat 20 times more effectively than air, it can either lose or gain significant heat.

Thermoregulation

Thermoregulation

The human body has a sophisticated thermoregulation system that employs negative feedback mechanisms to maintain an optimal core temperature. When the core temperature drops, peripheral and central thermoreceptors send signals to the hypothalamus, activating the heat-promoting center. This center triggers several responses aimed at increasing the core temperature. First, vasoconstriction reduces the flow of warm blood from internal organs to the skin so that the heat is not lost from the skin,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

Published on: January 8, 2014

Polyurethane Based Smart Composite Fabric for Personal Thermal Management in Multi-Mode.

Xunzhang Li¹, Guodong Liao¹, Wangwang Cai¹

¹College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 South Puzhu Road, Pukou District, Nanjing, 211816, P. R. China.

Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)

|July 11, 2024

Summary

This study introduces a novel smart fabric that adapts to environmental conditions. The textile provides enhanced warmth in cold, dry weather and cooling in hot, humid conditions, outperforming cotton.

Keywords:

dual adaptability functional polyurethane moisture management smart fabric thermal management

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Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

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Published on: January 8, 2014

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Artificial Thermal Ageing of Polyester Reinforced and Polyvinyl Chloride Coated Technical Fabric

Artificial Thermal Ageing of Polyester Reinforced and Polyvinyl Chloride Coated Technical Fabric

Published on: January 29, 2020

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Textile Engineering
Smart Materials

Background:

Developing textiles with responsive thermal and moisture management is a significant challenge.
Existing smart fabrics often lack sensitivity to environmental changes.

Purpose of the Study:

To create a multimodal smart fabric with adaptive thermal and moisture-regulating properties.
To engineer a textile that responds dynamically to varying environmental conditions.

Main Methods:

A smart fabric was constructed by combining silver-coated, thermal-humidity sensitive thermoplastic polyurethane (Ag-THSPU) with a polyvinylidene fluoride and polyurethane (PU-PVDF) hybrid layer.
The PU-PVDF layer was engineered for solar reflection, infrared emissivity, and water resistance.
The Ag-THSPU layer was designed to modulate thermal reflection, sweat evaporation, and convection.

Main Results:

In cold, dry conditions, the fabric exhibited low water transmission (102.74 g m⁻²·24 h⁻¹), high thermal reflection, and was 2.4°C warmer than cotton.
In hot, humid conditions, the fabric's Ag-THSPU layer swelled, increasing surface area and promoting sweat evaporation (2084.88 g/m⁻²·24 h⁻¹), thermal radiation, and convection, resulting in a 2.5°C cooler experience than cotton.
The fabric demonstrated significant thermal and moisture management capabilities through environmental adaptation.

Conclusions:

The developed multimodal smart fabric effectively manages thermal and moisture properties based on ambient conditions.
This innovative textile strategy offers a new pathway for creating adaptive fabrics for demanding applications.
The fabric's dual functionality provides enhanced comfort in both cold and hot environments.