The future of comfy sportswear and other clothing could be rosy, thanks to University of Alberta research.
Using advanced scientific tools, researchers explored the tactile qualities of rose petals and found that they feel cooler than many sports fabrics, because they transfer heat quickly. The petals also return to their shape rapidly after being pressed, and have different textures — smoother on the front, rough and sticky on the back.
Those features show how rose petals could contribute to engineering products that are more durable, resilient and in the case of clothing, enjoyable to wear, says postdoctoral researcher Rupali Dhiman, co-lead of the study with textile scientist Patricia Dolez.
“By understanding what makes rose petals feel special, we can create functional materials and products that are not only pleasant to the touch, but are comfortable and high-performance as well.”
Those next-generation, bio-inspired materials could range from cosmetics and textiles to handheld devices like cellphones.
In partnership with lululemon, the work adds to research that already draws on nature’s designs, such as swimwear inspired by shark skin and self-cleaning surfaces mimicked by lotus leaf properties, Dhiman notes.