The Rise of Graphene Integrated Textiles: How this 2D Material is Changing the Game for Fabrics and Clothing
Graphene, a two-dimensional material composed of a single layer of carbon atoms, has been widely studied due to its exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Among its properties, graphene has high strength, high stiffness, and high thermal conductivity, which make it a potential reinforcement material for fabrics and clothing.
At Graphene-X we have been engineering trailblazing clothing by innovating with graphene integrated fabrics and avant-garde design since 2019. Today, we dive onto the properties and applications of this amazing material in fabrics.
Mechanical Properties:
Graphene has a tensile strength of approximately 130 GigaPascals, which is over 100 times stronger than steel. When added to fabrics, graphene can improve the material's strength and stiffness, making the fabrics more durable and resistant to tearing. Additionally, graphene's high stiffness can improve the shape retention of clothing, preventing sagging or stretching.
Check the Expedition Pants by Graphene-X for unparalleled abrasion resistance in a pair of pants.
Thermal Properties:
Graphene has an exceptional thermal conductivity of up to 5,000 watts per meter per kelvin. This property can be used to improve the thermal properties of fabrics and clothing, making them more effective at regulating body temperature. For example, clothing made with graphene-reinforced fabrics can keep the wearer warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather, making them more comfortable to wear.
Electrical Properties:
Graphene has excellent electrical properties, including high electrical conductivity and high transparency. These properties can be used to create clothing with built-in electronic devices, such as heating elements, sensors, and displays. This could enable the development of smart clothing that can monitor the wearer's health, provide feedback on their movements, or even charge their electronic devices.
Bacteriostatic Properties:
Graphene has also been found to have bacteriostatic properties, which means it can inhibit the growth of bacteria (yes, this means products don’t smell after heavy use).
This property is due to the unique surface chemistry of graphene, which can disrupt the cell membrane of bacteria, preventing them from growing and reproducing. This makes it a promising material for use in fabrics and clothing that are in contact with the skin, such as sportswear, undergarments, and medical textiles.
Research has shown that graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have a strong bacteriostatic effect against a wide range of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The graphene oxide can act as a barrier to prevent bacteria from adhering to the fabric, and the reduced graphene oxide can directly interact with the bacteria, disrupting their metabolism and killing them.
It is also worth noting that Graphene has also shown to have antiviral properties, as well as anti-fungal properties, which makes it a promising material for medical textiles and personal protective equipment.
Hydrophobic Properties:
Graphene is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. This property is due to the chemical structure of graphene, which is composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. The carbon atoms in the lattice are strongly bonded to one another, creating a surface that is very difficult for water molecules to adhere to.
This hydrophobic property of graphene can be used to create waterproof clothing. Researchers have demonstrated that by incorporating graphene or graphene-based materials into fabrics, the fabrics can become highly water-repellent. This can be done by coating the fabrics with a thin layer of graphene or by adding graphene nanoparticles to the fibers during the textile manufacturing process.
Graphene oxide (GO) is a hydrophilic form of graphene, it can also be used to create water-repellent fabrics. The graphene oxide can be used to create a thin coating that covers the fibers, preventing water from penetrating the fabric. Additionally, the graphene oxide can also be used to create fabrics that are breathable and can allow water vapor to pass through while blocking liquid water.
Takeaway:
Graphene's exceptional properties make it a potential reinforcement material for fabrics and clothing. Its high strength, high stiffness, and high thermal conductivity can improve the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of fabrics and clothing.
At Graphene-X we are fully committed to keep innovating and changing the game in this space. 2023 is going to be a heck of a year.
Jorge Barros,
Founder & CEO of Graphene-X
JUNICHI MIYOSHI
August 10, 2023
Hi,
I’m JUNICHI MIYOSHI, CEO of ジェイスタート.
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Thank you.
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ジェイ・スタート
Mail to: j.start@j-miyoshi.com
HP: j-miyoshi.com
ADRESS：Room 102, Jeunesse Orb K1, 3227 Kitamachi,
Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture
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