PTI

Innovative electric sweaters would protect defence personnel from extreme cold by generating heat within the garment

Coimbatore, Aug 10: Scientists at a city-based technology institute have developed a novel ‘electric sweater’ for the exclusive use of defence personnel in extreme cold conditions. The electric sweater is one of the innovative products that have been introduced for defence personnel to make them “smart soldiers”, said R Murugan, a faculty at the Department of Textile Technology, PSG College of Technology.

The heavy wool material, used by defence personnel, made them uncomfortable and hindered free body movement. The electric sweater would protect them from extreme cold by generating heat within the garment.

At present, in cold conditions defence personnel use a heavy wool material, which is uncomfortable and hinders free body movement

Ni-chrome filament with a resistance of four ohm/meter is used in the product, said Murugan. Ni-chrome filament is a non-ferrous alloy of nickel and chromium, which has the property of generating heat, when a potential difference is maintained across its terminals. The maximum temperature and time taken to reach the temperature depends on the resistance of the filament.

Braided Ni-chrome filament is integrated in the garment by placing it between two layers of cotton fabric. The electric circuit comprises a temperature sensor, micro-controller and a battery.

The sensor, which is located near the arm-hole region, would sense the body temperature. Whenever the body temperature reached below a certain level, the sensor would trigger a micro-controller for heat generation by heating the Ni-chrome wire. The cut-off temperature (both upper and lower) could be set according to the comfort level of human body.