Thermal effects of copper-graphene composite films in a human skin analogous for the application to clothing

Ko, Y., Shin, S., Choi, Y.S., Hong, B.-H., Park, S.-Y., Lee, J.-Y.
International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, 32(4), 601(2020)
DOI:10.1108/IJCST-10-2019-0163

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore heat-accumulative and thermal-conductive characteristics of copper-graphene composite film (Cu-G film) while applying it to a human-skin analogue. Design/methodology/approach: In the preliminary experiment, the authors evaluated the thermal conductive characteristics of the Cu-G film in three covered conditions (no film, copper film, and Cu-G film conditions). For the first factorial experiment, the heat-accumulative properties over heated pig skin were compared at air temperatures of 10, 25 and 35°C. For the second factorial experiment, 105 trials were conducted on pig skin by combining air temperatures, trapped air volumes, and numbers of film layers. Findings: The results from the preliminary experiment showed that the Cu-G film distributed the surface heat to the outside of the Cu-G film, which resulted in even distribution of heat inside and outside the Cu-G film, whereas the copper film accumulated heat inside the copper film. The human-skin analogue of pig skin, however, showed the opposite tendency from that of the plastic. The pig-skin temperatures beneath the Cu-G film were higher than those beneath the copper film, and those differences were remarkable at the air temperature of 10°C. The accumulative heat was affected by the trapped air volume, fit to the skin, and number of Cu-G film layers. Originality/value: In conclusion, the Cu-G film more effectively accumulated heat on the human-skin analogue than copper film, and those effects were more marked in cold environments than in mild or hot environments. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.