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Intrinsically Flexible Phase Change Fibers for Intelligent Thermal Regulation
Hanqing Liu1,2,3, Xinyu Zhang1,3, Shihui Zhang1
1Thermochemistry Laboratory, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian Technology Innovation Center for Energy Materials Thermodynamics, Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Thermochemistry for Energy Materials, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 12, 2024
Summary
New phase change fibers (PMFs) utilize solid-solid transitions for superior wearable thermal management. These intrinsically flexible and washable PMFs offer sustainable, high-performance solutions for smart textiles.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Textile Engineering
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Phase change fibers (PCFs) are crucial for wearable thermal management due to latent heat generation.
- Existing PCFs face limitations in practicality due to solid-liquid transitions during use.
- There is a need for advanced PCFs with enhanced stability and applicability in wearable technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop intrinsically flexible PCFs with solid-solid phase transition properties.
- To evaluate the performance and practicality of these novel PCFs for wearable thermal management.
- To explore the sustainability and recyclability of the developed phase change fibers.
Main Methods:
- Polycondensation and wet-spinning processes were employed to synthesize polyethylene glycol/4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) fibers (PMFs).
- Characterization of phase transition behavior, mechanical strength, washability, thermal cycling stability, and dyeability.
- Knitting of PMFs into permeable fabrics to assess thermal management performance.
Main Results:
- Developed intrinsically flexible PMFs with solid-solid phase transition properties and adjustable phase transition behaviors.
- PMFs demonstrated superior mechanical strength (28 MPa), excellent washability (>100 cycles), and thermal cycling stability (>2000 cycles).
- Knitted PMF fabrics showed significantly improved thermal management performance compared to cotton fabrics, highlighting practical applicability.
Conclusions:
- The developed PMFs offer a promising solution for practical wearable thermal management, overcoming the limitations of traditional PCFs.
- Their inherent flexibility, durability, recyclability, and superior thermal performance position them as ideal materials for smart textiles and wearable electronics.
- PMFs represent a sustainable advancement in materials for intelligent thermal regulation in everyday applications.
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