Long-Term Autonomic Thermoregulating Fabrics Based on Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Thermal Energy Storage

Background:

• Phase change materials (PCMs) are crucial for thermal energy storage.
• Microencapsulation enhances PCM stability and application in textiles.
• Developing PCMs with transition temperatures suitable for human comfort is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the thermal energy storage capabilities of n-docosane microencapsulated PCMs (mPCMs) integrated into cotton fabrics.
• To evaluate the thermal buffering and thermoregulating performance of these impregnated fabrics under cyclic heating and cooling.
• To assess the long-term stability and performance of the mPCM-impregnated fabrics after prolonged storage.

Main Methods:

• Cotton fabrics were impregnated with n-docosane mPCMs (8 wt %).
• Thermal performance was tested through cyclic heating and cooling experiments.
• Fabric samples were aged at room temperature for 4 years (1500 days) before re-testing.

Main Results:

• Impregnated fabrics exhibited an 11 °C temperature buffering effect during heating.
• A 6 °C temperature increase was observed during cooling over 100 cycles.
• Aged fabrics showed enhanced performance: 14 °C buffering during heating and 9 °C increase during cooling, stable over 100 cycles.

Conclusions:

• Microencapsulated n-docosane demonstrates significant potential for thermal management in textiles.
• The mPCMs offer stable and effective thermoregulation, even after long-term aging.
• Applications include technical textiles, footwear, and building materials for thermal comfort and energy efficiency.