Fabric with a Thermostat

A decade ago two ARS scientists in New Orleans invented Polytherm, a remarkable fabric that warms you when you are cold and cools you when you're hot. Since then, it has been patented (USPN 4,871,615; Docket #0895.87) by USDA and has undergone several improvements. Two private companies in the United States have been granted non-exclusive licenses to develop products using the Polytherm-process. They are Wisconsin Global Technologies in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and Bayshore Absorbent Products in New York City.

A chemical treatment enables the fabric to absorb and store heat when surrounding temperatures rise and then release heat when temperatures fall. The inventors believe that their process could prove useful for building insulation, draperies, gloves, clothing, and slippers.

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Updated 7/23/03