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Types of Passive Body Cooling Vests- The Real Story
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Steele Inc. only provides gel ice cooling vests due to the possible flammability/toxicity issues associated with phase change materials. Additionally, as seen below, gel ice provides considerably more cooling that either phase change or evaporative cooling devices.
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Gel Pack
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Phase Change Material
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Evaporative
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Cooling Source
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Gel-ice: A mixture of starch, water and other ingredients that
when frozen, has similar cooling capacity as ice.
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Phase Change Material: Paraffin materials that freeze at different
temperatures, typically 55 to 65 degrees farenheight.
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Evaporative Material: A 3-layer composite fabric designed to
evaporate water that is stored in the center layer through wicking.
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Feature Benefits
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- Maximum cooling power:
89.2 watts
(see test report)
- Nontoxic
- Does not leak when melted
- Proven core temperature reduction
- Many government test reports available,
which prove body cooling capability
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- Can be recharged in icewater
- Medium cooling power:
59.5 watts
(see test report)
- Cools at a comfortable temperature in non-extreme heat environments
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- Light weight
- Low profile
- Inexpensive
- Light cooling power:
(see test report)
- Uses easily available water as cooling source
- Disposable (1 month use)
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Considerations
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- Requires freezing of packs
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- Highly flammable if liquid leaks onto vest from punctured pack
- Heavy (4-7 lbs.)
- No data available to affirm core cooling capability
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- Provides only light cooling power
- Less useful in humid conditions
- Not effective under protective clothing
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Steele Inc. only provides gel ice cooling vests due to the possible flammability/toxicity issues associated with phase change materials. Additionally, as seen above, gel ice provides considerably more cooling that either phase change or evaporative cooling devices.
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