Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cooling vests with phase change materials: the effects of melting temperature on heat strain alleviation in an extremely hot environment

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A previous study by the authors using a heated thermal manikin showed that the cooling rates of phase change material (PCM) are dependent on temperature gradient, mass, and covering area. The objective of this study was to investigate if the cooling effects of the temperature gradient observed on a thermal manikin could be validated on human subjects in extreme heat. The subjects wore cooling vests with PCMs at two melting temperatures (24 and 28°C) and fire-fighting clothing and equipment, thus forming three test groups (vest24, vest28 and control group without the vest). They walked on a treadmill at a speed of 5 km/h in a climatic chamber (air temperature = 55°C, relative humidity = 30%, vapour pressure = 4,725 Pa, and air velocity = 0.4 m/s). The results showed that the PCM vest with a lower melting temperature (24°C) has a stronger cooling effect on the torso and mean skin temperatures than that with a higher melting temperature (28°C). Both PCM vests mitigate peak core temperature increase during the resting recovery period. The two PCM vests tested, however, had no significant effect on the alleviation of core temperature increase during exercise in the heat. To study the possibility of effective cooling of core temperature, cooling garments with PCMs at even lower melting temperatures (e.g. 15°C) and a larger covering area should be investigated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arngrímsson SÁ, Petitt DS, Stueck MG, Jorgensen DK, Cureton KJ (2004) Cooling vest worn during active warm-up improves 5-km run performance in the heat. J Appl Physiol 96:1867–1874

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bendkowska W, Kłonowska M, Kopias K, Bogdan A (2010) Thermal Manikin evaluation of PCM cooling vests. Fibres Text East Eur 18:70–74

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett BL, Hagan RD, Huey KA, Minson C, Cain D (1995) Comparison of two cool vests on heat-strain reduction while wearing a firefighting ensemble. Eur J Appl Physiol 70:322–328

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter JM, Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Richmond V, Blacker S (2007) Strategies to combat heat strain during and after firefighting. J Therm Biol 32(2):109–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi JW, Kim MJ, Lee JY (2008) Alleviation of heat strain by cooling different body areas during red pepper harvest work at WBGT 33°C. Ind Health 46:620–628

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chou C, Tochihara Y, Kim T (2008) Physiological and subjective responses to cooling devices on fire fighting protective clothing. Eur J Appl Physiol 104:369–374

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duffield R, Marino FE (2007) Effects of pre-cooling procedures on intermittent-sprint exercise performance in warm conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 100:727–735

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein Y, Shapiro Y, Brill S (1986) Comparison between different auxiliary cooling devices in a severe hot/dry climate. Ergonomics 29:41–48

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gagge AP, Nishi Y (1977) Heat exchange between human skin surface and thermal environment. In: Lee DHK (ed) Handbook of physiology. American Physiological Society, Bethesda, pp 69–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao C, Kuklane K, Holmér I (2010) Cooling vests with phase change material packs: the effects of temperature gradient, mass, and covering area. Ergonomics 53:716–723

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hadid A, Yanovich R, Erlich T, Khomenok G, Moran DS (2008) Effect of a personal ambient ventilation system on physiological strain during heat stress wearing a ballistic vest. Eur J Appl Physiol 104:311–319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holmér I, Kuklane K, Gao C (2006) Test of firefighter’s turnout gear in hot and humid air exposure. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 12(3):297–305

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • House J, Lunt H, Lyons J (2005) Extending safe working times in the heat by combined use of hand cooling and ice-vests. In: Holmér I, Kuklane K, Gao C (ed) Proceedings of the 11th international conference on environmental ergonomics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, ISBN 91-631-7062-0. pp 59–62

  • Hunter I, Hopkins JT, Casa DJ (2006) Warming up with an ice vest: core body temperature before and after cross-country racing. J Athl Train 41(4):371–374

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jetté FX, Dionne JP, Rose J, Makris A (2004) Effect of thermal manikin surface temperature on the performance of personal cooling systems. Eur J Appl Physiol 92:669–672

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuklane K, Holmér I, Ohlsson G, Nilsson H (2000) Heat stress in ventilated airtight coverall. In: Werner J, Hexamer M (eds) Proceedings of the 9th international conference on environmental ergonomics, vol IX. Shaker Verlag, Dortmund, pp 361–364. ISBN: 3-8265-7648-9

  • Lopez RM, Cleary MA, Jones LC, Zuri RE (2008) Thermoregulatory influence of a cooling vest on hyperthermic athletes. J Athl Train 43(1):55–61

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myhre LG, Muir I (2005) The effect of 30-minutes of upper body cooling (ice vest) on skin and core temperatures during rest in a comfortable environment (T a = 22°C). In: Holmér I, Kuklane K, Gao C (ed) Proceedings of the 11th international conference on environmental ergonomics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, pp 52–54. ISBN: 91-631-7062-0

  • Pimental NA, Cosimini HM, Sawka MN, Wenger CB (1987) Effectiveness of an air-cooled vest using selected air temperature and humidity combinations. Aviat Space Environ Med 58:119–124

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pimental NA, Avellini BA, Janik CR (1988) Microclimate cooling systems: a physiological evaluation of two commercial systems. Technical Report No. NCTRF 164. Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, Natick

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinertsen RE, Farevik H, Holbo K, Nesbakken R, Reian J, Royset A, Thi MSL (2008) Optimizing the performance of phase change material in personal protective clothing systems. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 14:43–53

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro Y, Pandolf K, Sawka MN, Toner MM, Winsmann FR, Goldman RF (1982) Auxiliary cooling: comparison of air-cooled vs. water-cooled vests in hot-dry and hot-wet environments. Aviat Space Environ Med 53(8):785–789

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shim H, McCullough EA, Jones BW (2001) Using phase change materials in clothing. Text Res J 71(6):495–502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smolander J, Kuklane K, Gavhed D, Nilsson H, Holmér I (2004) Effectiveness of a light-weight ice-vest for cooling while wearing fire fighter’s protective clothing in the heat. Int J Occup Saf Ergo 10:111–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters TJ, Ryan KL, Tate LM, Mason PA (2000) Exercise in the heat is limited by a critical internal temperature. J Appl Physiol 89:799–806

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webster J, Holland EJ, Sleivert G, Laing RM, Niven BE (2005) A light-weight cooling vest enhances performance of athletes in the heat. Ergonomics 48(7):821–837

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to TST Sweden AB for providing the PCM cooling products, to the subjects for their participation in the study in the extremely hot environment, and to Eileen Deaner and reviewers for comments.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors of the present study declare that they have no conflict of interest

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Thermal Environment Laboratory, Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Lund University, Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden

    Chuansi Gao, Kalev Kuklane & Ingvar Holmér

Authors
  1. Chuansi Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kalev Kuklane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ingvar Holmér
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chuansi Gao.

Additional information

Communicated by George Havenith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gao, C., Kuklane, K. & Holmér, I. Cooling vests with phase change materials: the effects of melting temperature on heat strain alleviation in an extremely hot environment. Eur J Appl Physiol 111, 1207–1216 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1748-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1748-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation