TEMPERATURE-ADAPTABLE HOLLOW FIBERS CONTAINING POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS

Polyethylene glycols incorporated as 57% aq. solutions into hollow rayon and polypropylene fibers, after drying and conditioning, produced heat contents (Q) 1. 2-2. 5 times greater than untreated hollow polypropylene and 2. 2-4. 4 times greater than untreated hollow rayon fibers. The resultant Q values in a given temperature interval were reproducible for at least 50 heating and cooling cycles with no adverse change in their thermal performance compared to their first heating and cooling cycle. As monitored by differential scanning calorimetry, these modified fibers had thermal storage and release values useful at temperatures as low at minus 8 to minus 48 degree C on cooling and as high as plus 42 to plus 77 degree C on heating, with little variability in Q values.