Ask HN: Any Chemistry hackers here?

Chemist here, just musing @ breakfast, so I am not backing any of that stuff with literature research.

I understand you would like to have a permanent cooling effect. Unfortunatly, materials that undergo conformational/phase transition processes do not require a permanent feed of thermal energy e.g.

  A + dT --> A'  conversion with heating
  A' -> A + dT   fall back to original state with cooldown

  with dT temperature difference (thermal energy)
  and A and A' the respective states of the material.

As such you would need a material that uses the thermal energy for some other effect e.g. radiation of light, permanent conformational movement creation of electric potential etc. The trouble I see here is that the effiency of energy conversion is fairly low with the current polymers. And the price tag.

Ok, here is a crazy idea, but not sure if it is not impractical or even stupid (; . Maybe use of superadsorbing polymers with a specific thermoresponsive behaviour somewhere around the working temperature of the athlete would give you a higher cooling effect. Once the athlete heats up, the polymer becomes more hydrophilic, allowing for more sweat to enter the fabric. Hopefully, the wet fabric would have a better thermal energy flow than the dry fabric. Basically, you make a supersoaking sweatshirt. But then again, maybe you just use a hydrophilic fabric?

Biotechnologist here....As I see it there are three options: 1. Uptake of the thermic energy by an endothermic chemical reaction (like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_cold_pack) 2. Passive removal of the heat with a heat conducting material (you have to get rid of the heat somewhere else) 3. Active removal of the heat (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_vest)

I think thermoelectric cooling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling) would be suitable for your application. It is also compatible with Arduino technology I think.

You might find this paper worth a read as it covers garments and water absorbtion/heat disapation effect. Quick read to me a material that will absorb as much sweat as possible will carry on disapating heat better due to captured moisture post sweating. But different sports/enviroments will need be needed, something that retains moisture in a cold enviroment would potentualy overcool them post sporting.

"A Study of Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Material under Equilibrium Conditions" : http://www.bckiln.ir/Wood_Dryer/download_files/enteghal%20ha...

I also know that the cooling of the feet is a overlooked area as shoes will allow a heat buildup and the blood will happily cicle that heat around. With that if you also cool the feet it will mentaly make you feel colder than you are, same effect wwitht he hands.

So maybe look at cooling gloves as you will have less sweat to deal with and in most sporting/athletic events the hands will always be moving, so air cooling of the gloves will help.