i2Cool Launches Passive Cooling Fabrics for Umbrellas and Shading Structures
Technology firm i2Cool has introduced new fabrics that actively cool by reflecting sunlight and emitting heat without electricity. The materials are designed to enhance the cooling performance of outdoor umbrellas and shading structures.
Chinese technology company i2Cool has launched two new fabric materials engineered for passive cooling without electricity. The products, i2Umbrella Fabric-Hyber and i2Tarpaulin, are designed to reflect solar radiation while simultaneously emitting trapped heat, thereby lowering surface temperatures.
These fabrics go beyond conventional shading by not only blocking direct sunlight but also actively dissipating heat. They achieve this through high solar reflectivity and efficient mid-infrared emissivity, principles based on i2Cool's radiative cooling research previously published in Science.
i2Umbrella Fabric-Hyber is tailored for lightweight applications such as sun umbrellas, golf umbrellas, and patio shades. It boasts a solar reflectivity of up to 76% and mid-infrared emissivity of up to 96%. Comparative tests showed it maintained an internal temperature 2.4°C cooler than conventional sun protection fabrics.
i2Tarpaulin is developed for larger-scale, heavy-duty applications like greenhouse roofs, parking canopies, and membrane structures. This material offers up to 85% solar reflectivity and 95% mid-infrared emissivity. Field trials in agricultural greenhouses demonstrated peak internal temperature reductions of up to 8.3°C.
The new materials provide an energy-efficient solution for outdoor environments, reducing reliance on powered cooling systems and contributing to sustainability efforts.