Footnote
(Note 1) A material that maintains constant temperature for a certain period of time.
(Note 2) A preventive measure to reduce the risk of heat stroke by lowering the core body temperature (temperature inside the body) before one starts to feel sick.
(Note 3) Jointly developed with WINGATE Inc. and DESCENTE JAPAN LTD.
(Note 4) Palms were selected as the cooling site because they have arteriovenous anastomosis, a specialized blood vessels that regulates body temperature, and by cooling the blood that passes through this vessel, the chilled blood travels through the body and is highly effective and efficient in cooling the body from the inside.
(Note 5) TEKION thermal storage material utilizes Sharp's proprietary heat storage technology cultivated through research on liquid crystal materials. By utilizing this material, the melting temperature can be easily adjusted between -24 and +28°C. By combining materials with different melting points according to the purpose, the ideal temperature can be maintained.
(Note 6) Implemented by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH) and Sharp.
New Heat Countermeasures That Cool the Palms With 12°C Thermal Storage Material
Sharp Corporation
| Publication date | April 28, 2022 (Posted on May 10, 2023) |
|---|---|
| Sector | Human Health |
Company Overview
[Sharp Corporation]
Sharp Corporation is an electronics manufacturer with an extensive range of businesses including AV equipment, home appliances, mobile phones/communications/information equipment, LCD/electronic devices, energy systems, and office equipment. Following the words of founder Tokuji Hayakawa, "Make products that others want to imitate," the company has been dedicated to manufacturing products that meet the needs of the next generation faster than anywhere else, and has been contributing to society and earning the trust of customers since its establishment in 1912.
[TEKION LAB]
TEKION LAB is an in-house start-up operating in the Smart Appliances & Solutions Business Division of Sharp Corporation, and is engaged in a variety of innovative challenges using thermal storage materials (Note 1) developed based on the technology Sharp has cultivated through research of liquid crystal materials.
Climate Change Impacts
In recent years, temperature during the summer has been on the rise along with the ongoing climate change, and measures to prevent heat-related illnesses have been drawing more attention. Currently, “cooling the body," is acknowledged as a first-aid treatment after the onset of heat stroke, rather than as a preventive measure before physical illness strikes.
Adaptation Initiatives
TEKION LAB focused on "pre-cooling" (Note 2) to cool the body as a preventive measure before people feel sick, and engaged in developing a new heat countermeasure. We developed the TEKION cooling glove (Note 3), which controls the rise of body temperature by cooling the palm of the hand (Note 4) with a pack of TEKION thermal storage material (Note 5) adjusted to keep the temperature at 12°C (Fig. 1). In a verification experiment (Note 6), a comparison was made between a case in which the palms were cooled with a thermal storage material for about 30 minutes before exercising in a hot environment and a case in which they were not cooled, and the results showed a significant difference in core body temperature (temperature inside the body) (Fig. 2).
The setting of 12°C was chosen as the temperature for the TEKION thermal storage material because it has the same effect as the recommended measure of “cooling the palms by immersing them in 20°C water”, and it is also a temperature that people do not feel pain during cooling (Fig. 3).
Effects / Expected Benefits
It is expected to reduce the risk of heat stroke by lowering the core body temperature in advance (before the physical condition worsens) prior to engaging in intense sports or working in a hot environment. Other than workouts and exercises, it can also be easily used as a heat countermeasure for children and senior citizens.
(The lower right is 12°C TEKION thermal storage material used in Core Cooler)
