In future mountain climbers could be kitted out in gear made from life-saving technology developed in Luxembourg, following a successful pilot.
The super-light, Arctic Tex jackets, expected to reach the market in 2022, were tested in August 2021 by climbers ascending Mount Elbrus, Europe’s second-highest mountain. What makes them unique is that the fabric was treated with graphene nanotubes made by Luxembourg-based OCSiAI. These nanotubes create a three-dimensional network that transforms the textile into a heating element, making them ideal for use in extreme cold weather conditions.
During the pilot, which was held in strong winds and temperatures of minimum -15°C, 10 milligrams of graphene nanotubes warmed up the climbers in just 40 seconds.
According to OCSiAI, a surface area of 2.5 square metres of fabric can be heated using a single gram of TUBALL nanotubes, enough for 98 jackets. “Each jacket contains approximately 10 milligrams of nanotubes. For comparison, a drop of water weights 80 milligrams,” the firm said in a press statement.
The heating process is facilitated by a portable power source whose charge can last up to six hours in continuous use, tests suggest. Altogether, each jacket weighs just half a kilo, thanks to the reduced thermal insulation volume and use of nanotubes.
The revolutionary technology could be a safety game-changer for people operating in extreme weather conditions. Arctic Tex says that its next step will be to build temperature control sensors into the jacket and develop software. Arctic Tex chief Olga Moskalyuk adds that the technology could also be developed to send emergency signals when needed.
OCSiAI is the world’s largest manufacturer of graphene nanotubes, graphene sheets rolled into tubes that measure a single atom in thickness. The technology is used in a range of applications and industries, and has become an industry standard in the manufacture of Li-ion batteries, with a number of major manufacturers developing cells featuring OCSiAI nanotubes for use in cars.
In July 2021, Japanese air conditioning giant Daikin Industries became a shareholder of the group. Meanwhile, OCSiAI plans to create a nanotechnology hub in Differdange in 2024, generating up to 325 jobs.
OCSiAI and Arctic Tex are both part of the Rusnano Group, a Russian innovation development institution focused on nanotechnology.
