Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Purple Cooling Fabric Offers White-Level Performance in Sunlight
Scientists made a purple fabric that can stay very cool in hot sunlight.
Most cooling fabrics are white because white reflects sunlight well.
Purple usually gets hotter because it absorbs some sunlight.
The new fabric uses tiny special materials to reflect sunlight and let heat escape.
In tests, it was much cooler than ordinary purple cotton.
It was also cooler than white cotton in some tests.
The fabric is light, flexible, breathable and can let sweat vapour pass through.
Scientists hope it could help outdoor workers, athletes and other people stay cooler without using extra energy.
Researchers from Zhengzhou University and Adelaide University developed a purple passive-cooling fabric.
The fabric was up to 6.2°C cooler than conventional purple cotton in direct sunlight.
Simulated-skin tests showed temperature reductions of up to 8°C, compared with 4.6°C for white cotton.
Microscopic purple metal-organic framework fibres and zinc oxide nanoparticles help reflect sunlight and release heat.
The lightweight, breathable fabric remained effective after 50 washes and intense ultraviolet testing.
- Who
- Researchers from Zhengzhou University and Adelaide University, including PhD candidate Yangzhe Hou.
- What
- They developed and tested a purple fabric designed to cool itself in sunlight.
- When
- The article does not give a publication date; ultraviolet testing simulated about 108 days outdoors, and the fabric remained effective after 50 washing cycles.
- Where
- The research was conducted by Chinese and Australian researchers; the article is datelined New Delhi.
- Why
- The researchers aim to help people manage body temperature in hot conditions without consuming additional energy and eventually produce cooling fabrics in more colours.
- Maximum cooling advantage
- Up to 6.2°C cooler than conventional purple cotton under direct sunlight.
- Simulated-skin result
- The fabric reduced temperatures by as much as 8°C.
- Solar reflectance
- It reflected an average of 87.6% of solar radiation.
- Infrared emission
- It emitted 96.4% of mid-infrared radiation.
- Durability
- Cooling and optical properties remained after 50 washing cycles.
- UV resistance
- Performance remained strong after testing equivalent to about 108 days outdoors.
- Potential uses
- Cooling clothing for outdoor workers, athletes and people exposed to extreme heat.