Graphene Infusion: International Fashion Brands Join the Race

Harder than diamonds, more elastic than rubber! This isn’t just a catchy slogan from a shopping channel; it’s the recent craze in the industrial world—graphene. But what exactly is its magical power?

Graphene, derived from graphite, a material we’re all familiar with from pencils. Imagine peeling layers upon layers off a piece of graphite; graphene is the super-thin film in between. Thin as it is, its capabilities are boundless.

Graphene boasts an array of superpowers: ultrathin, super tough, highly thermally conductive, and highly electrically conductive, making it a darling of the industrial materials world. In recent years, not only has the textile industry taken notice of this hot commodity, but various consumer industries have also jumped on the bandwagon. Textile companies are incorporating graphene fibers into mass-produced bedding, functional sportswear, winter clothing for warmth, and even health protection gear.

Let’s first examine the technological advancements of international giants:

The well-known British brand Superdry, familiar to Taiwanese, was the first to adopt graphene clothing technology, integrating its temperature and humidity regulation benefits into cold-resistant clothing. Moreover, graphene’s toughness reduces fiber wear and tear. Just add a touch of graphene, and clothing’s insulation and durability take a giant leap forward.

Sportswear giant Reebok has also incorporated graphene into over a dozen functional garments, creating a «thermal bottle» effect in specific areas (such as hats, shoulders, and thighs) to retain heat effectively, maximizing warmth.

Graphene’s excellent thermal conductivity and lightweight elasticity have made it the darling of the latest functional textile products.。Image Source┃Asiatic Fiber Corp

Does Wearing Graphene Really Make a Difference?

With international brands being so quick to recognize its potential, is graphene truly a miraculous material when combined with textiles?

In simple terms, graphene possesses both hard power (thermal conductivity, wear resistance, high elasticity) and soft power (far-infrared release, antibacterial, UV resistance). When added to textile materials, it naturally generates three major advantages:

1. Thermal Insulation: Graphene’s high thermal conductivity acts like a highway within the fabric, rapidly distributing body heat throughout, ideal for developing thermal and temperature-regulating functional clothing to keep the body warm.
2. Cooling Effect: It can conduct heat as well as dissipate it! Graphene has a high sensitivity to heat, so besides conducting heat, it also quickly dissipates the heat generated by the body under high temperatures. Applied to smartphones, it can serve as a cooling component, while in fabrics, it increases the cooling surface area, keeping the body cool.
3. Antibacterial Properties and Enhanced Circulation through Far-Infrared Rays: After absorbing and reflecting the heat emitted by the body, graphene converts it into far-infrared rays of 8-14 micrometers, promoting resonance of water molecules in the body, leading to a thermal reaction in subcutaneous tissues, effectively accelerating blood circulation. Additionally, graphene’s natural antibacterial effect adds an extra layer of antibacterial and deodorizing functionality to clothes.

Graphene’s characteristics redefine functional textiles. Its superior performance in cooling, insulation, and comfort has been discussed in publications, including those from the Taiwan Textile Research Institute. Super lightweight, highly thermally conductive, antibacterial, abrasion-resistant, and UV-resistant, graphene leads the industrial trend while also being suitable for household use, combining seamlessly with yarns and fabrics, cleverly regulating body temperature.

Graphene, composed of carbon atoms in a honeycomb structure, allows electrons to flow freely within it. This structure gives it extremely high electrical and thermal conductivity, with a thickness of just one carbon atom.

Image Source┃Wiki／AlexanderAlUS