An overview of phase change materials, their production, and applications in textiles

A phase change material (PCM) is a substance that releases/absorbs enough energy to produce useful heat/ cooling upon phase transition. The transition will take place between one of the initial two fundamental states of matter, solid and liquid. It might also be a transition between non-classical states like crystal structure. The integration of PCM in textiles by coating or encapsulation to create thermo-regulated smart textiles has piqued the researcher's interest recently. As a result, an attempt has been made to examine the principles of PCM and their applications for smart temperature-controlled textiles. The many forms of phase transition materials are discussed. This is followed by a summary of the integration of PCM into the textile structure. This review article discusses the concept of thermal comfort, cold-weather clothing, phase change materials, and garment comfort. Additionally, applications of PCM in the textile are discussed. The following are some examples of recent PCMincorporated textile applications. Finally, this review article discusses the market for PCM in the textiles industry as well as some difficulties.