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

Microcapsules loaded with n-docosane as phase change material (mPCMs) for thermal energy storage with a phase change transition temperature in the range of 36-45 degrees C have been employed to impregnate cotton fabrics. Fabrics impregnated with 8 wt % of mPCMs provided 11 degrees C of temperature buffering effect during heating. On the cooling step, impregnated fabrics demonstrated 6 degrees C temperature increase for over 100 cycles of switching on/off of the heating source. Similar thermoregulating performance was observed for impregnated fabrics stored for 4 years (1500 days) at room temperature. Temperature buffering effect increased to 14 degrees C during heating cycle and temperature increase effect reached 9 degrees C during cooling cycle in the aged fabric composites. Both effects remained stable in aged fabrics for more than 100 heating/cooling cycles. Our study demonstrates high potential use of the microencapsulated n-docosane for thermal management applications, including high-technical textiles, footwear materials, and building thermoregulating covers and paints with high potential for commercial applications.