Research on the use of ionic electroactive polymer materials for construction of protective clothing against cold.

Aim of the project was to develop active protective clothing against the cold with the use of ionic electroactive elements. Developed within the project prototype of protective clothing against cold consists of jacket Tourist type II protecting against cold, package of active textile materials containing electroactive components and a control unit for such material. The project produced a series of electroactive elements, differing in thickness of the polymer film, a kind of electrodes applied to the surface of the polymer and the type of solvent used. Based on extensive laboratory insulation testing of developed thermo material model and thermovisual tests at a cold storage workplace it can be stated that the use of electroactive elements enables effective change of insulation in thermal clothing with a relatively small demand for energy. And so the developed insulating material can be an alternative to currently used solutions of clothing design with heating elements or can be used with them complementarily.