SBIR Phase II: Second Skin: 3D Microfluidics-Enabled Technology for Perspiration Management

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于提高人们的舒适性，例如运动员在高强度训练和比赛中，仓库工人在炎热潮湿的环境中需要防护服，以及必须忍受极端工作条件的安全(例如消防员和第一反应人员)和军事人员。我们革命性的水分管理技术利用全新的3D微流体传输原理，将汗水从皮肤转移到衣服外部，在那里它可以滴落或控制。与基于毛细管吸收的传统排湿产品相比，我们的技术使面料和服装产品保持轻便、始终干燥、高度透气和永不饱和。阿塔卡马？S技术旨在为佩戴者提供更好的体温调节和高强度活动时的舒适性，从而提高性能和安全性。该项目旨在解决目前水分管理产品在处理大量水分(例如汗水)时不足的问题。在大汗淋漓或高温的情况下，衣服会很快被湿气浸透，导致湿、重、粘的感觉，影响穿着者的表现。我们提出的研究旨在开发一系列能够持续输送水分的纺织品，使织物在炎热潮湿的环境中进行高强度的体育活动时保持干燥、透气和轻便。利用第一阶段开发的大规模制造工艺，正在进行的研究工作将侧重于在广泛的织物材料(例如聚酯/聚氨酯混纺织物、棉花)上实施该技术。此外，阿塔卡马的科学家将根据体汗图谱研究优化射流通道的设计，并将进一步增强射流网络的健壮性。第二阶段的完成将带来一系列突破性的纺织产品(如面料和服装)，集成了优化和强大的3D微流控湿度管理技术。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in increasing the comfort of people, such as athletes during their high intensity workouts and competitions, warehouse workers who require protective clothing in hot and humid environments, and safety (e.g. firemen and first responders) and military personnel who must endure extreme working conditions. Our revolutionary moisture management technology utilizes a novel 3D microfluidic transport principle to move sweat from the skin to the outside of clothing, where it can drip away or be controlled. Compared with conventional moisture wicking products which are based on capillary absorption, our technology allows fabric and apparel products to remain lightweight, always dry, highly breathable and never-saturated. ATACAMA?s technology is designed to provide the wearer an improved regulation of body temperature and comfort level during high intensity activities, contributing to both performance and safety. This project aims at solving the current problems of moisture-management products that are inadequate when dealing with large amount of moisture (e.g. sweat). In high sweat or high heat situations, apparel can become quickly saturated with moisture, leading to a wet, heavy, sticky feeling that impacts the performance of the wearer. Our proposed research aims to develop a broad range of textiles that can continuously transport moisture, so that fabric remain dry, breathable and lightweight during high intensity physical activities in hot and humid environment. Utilizing the large-scale manufacturing process developed in Phase I, ongoing research efforts will focus on the implementation of the technology on a broad range of fabric materials (e.g. polyester/polyurethane blends, cotton). As well, scientists at ATACAMA will optimize designs of the fluidic channels based on body sweat mapping research and will further enhance the robustness of the fluidic network. A series of breakthrough textile products (e.g. fabrics and apparel) integrated with optimized and robust 3D microfluidic-enabled moisture management technology will result from the completion of Phase II.