Sustainable monomaterial thermoregulating textiles
About
SVETEX is a new circular, low-carbon, and passively-cooling textile technology developed by the MIT Multifunctional Metamaterials (META) Lab, which can reduce terrestrial plastic pollution, provide thermal comfort, impede bacterial growth, and enable space exploration. SVETEX offers an opportunity to recycle large amounts of polyethylene waste, which is currently not economically feasible to utilize in the absence of high value products like textiles. The mono-material concept, where fiber/yarn properties are derived from the structure of the material rather than from using blends of different materials keeps the end product fully recyclable, preventing future pollution and ensuring material circularity.
Interested in collaborating with us on adapting SVETEX technology for your application? Reach out to Dr. Svetlana Boriskina to initiate a discussion.
Applications
Space
To enable return to the Lunar surface and propel missions to Mars, it is crucial to develop methods to shield astronauts from lethal radiation. We work on the integration of SVETEX textiles into the MIT BioSuit & other space garments to provide thermoregulation & radiation protection.
Plastic waste reduction
India’s plastic waste generation doubled from 15.9 to 34.7 hundred thousand tons between 2016 and 2020. Of this plastic waste, 50% remains non-utilized. Unplastic India aims to use SVETEX technology to convert LDPE waste into affordable advanced textiles.
Automotive
Hot weather can cause the temperature inside a vehicle to spike within minutes. We work with Seoyon E-HWA engineers on a SVETEX-enabled thermoregulating insulation that controls radiative heat transfer and storage to save lives and extend the car mileage.
Military
META Lab collaborates with the Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico & Federal University of Ceara, Brazil on adding a functional active envelope to SVETEX textiles for naval operators to enable energy harvesting, health monitoring, sensing, and active thermoregulation.
Medical apparel
The healthcare industry grapples with a lack of textiles purposefully designed for its unique demands. META Lab engineers work with Colorchain Inc. to fill this gap by developing thermoregulating & liquid-repelling medical apparel that healthcare providers deserve.
Latest News
Does our survival hinge on the shirts on our backs?
Researchers in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering published a breakthrough of seismic significance for the apparel and footwear industries of a progressively hotter world. Five years ago, engineers set out to take polyethylene — a thin and lightweight polymer, and the most common plastic in use today — and spin it into fibers that offer self-cooling properties. In 2021, they succeeded, and now have developed technology that can transform a multitude of single-use plastics into clothing that can regulate your body temperature.
Plastic bags recycled into fabric to fight pollution
Scientists have made fabrics from polythene in a move they say could reduce plastic pollution and make the fashion industry more sustainable. Polythene is a ubiquitous plastic, found in everything from plastic bags to food packaging. The new textiles have potential uses in sports wear, and even high-end fashion, according to US researchers. The plastic “cloth” is more environmentally-friendly than natural fibres, and can be recycled, they say.