Phase change materials (PCMs) can absorb and release large amounts of heat during phase changes from solid to liquid and back. When incorporated into textiles, PCMs provide thermal regulation to improve comfort. There are over 500 natural and synthetic PCMs that differ in phase change temperatures and heat storage capacities. PCMs are added to textiles through microencapsulation, coating, or lamination methods. Research shows PCM textiles increase thermal comfort during exercise by regulating temperature and humidity levels. Current PCM sportswear on the market includes products from Outlast and Comfortemp that claim thermoregulation benefits. Further development needs standardized testing methods and improving durability of PCMs under washing and usage conditions

1. Phase Change Materials
in Active Sports Wear
TXA 394 Speciality Fibres
Shamini Rajaganesh

2. Table of Contents
• Introduction to PCM
• Types of PCM
• PCM manufacture
• Working of PCM in textiles
• Methods of application on textiles
• PCM in sportswear
• Current market scenario
• Conclusion
2

3. INTRODUCTION TO PCM
3

4. Introduction to PCM
• Phase Change Materials or PCMs are those
that can absorb, store and release large
amounts of energy, in the form of latent
heat, over a narrowly defined phase change
range, during which the material changes
state.
4

5. Introduction to PCM
• At melting temperature,
Absorbs
Heat
Solid Liquid
PCM PCM
Breaking down of
chemical structure
5

6. Introduction to PCM
• At crystallization temperature,
Releases
Heat
Solid Liquid
PCM PCM
Chemical bonds are
formed again
6

7. Introduction to PCM
Crystallization
Temperature
Constant Temperature
• PCM of PCM and substrate
Melting point
7

8. Introduction to PCM
• The most common example of PCM is water.
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/latent.GIF
8

9. TYPES OF PCM
9

10. Types of PCM
• More than 500 natural and synthetic PCMs
• Differ in ,
– phase change temperature ranges and
– heat storage capacities.
10

11. Types of PCM
PCM
Organic Inorganic Fatty Acids Commercial
11

12. Types of PCM
PCMs used in textiles
Linear chain
Eutectics of
hydrocarbons
Hydrated Polyethylene Fatty Acids organic and
or Paraffin
salts glycols non-organic
waxes (n-
compounds
alkanes)
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13. WORKING OF PCM IN TEXTILES
13

14. Required properties of PCMs in Textiles
• Melting point between 15 and 35ºC;
• Large heat of fusion
• Small temperature difference between melting and
crystallization point
• Harmless to the environment
• Low toxicity
• Non-flammable
• Good stability for repeated phase change
• Large thermal conductivity
• Ease of availability
• Low Price
14

15. Working of PCM
• Transient thermal barrier
• Under hot environmental conditions,
HEAT HEAT
The cooling effect of PCM
15

16. Working of PCM
• Under cold environmental conditions,
HEAT HEAT
The heating effect of PCM
16

17. Working of PCM
• Active thermal insulation effect of PCM improves
thermo-physiological wearing comfort.
• Thermo-regulation
• PCM fabrics referred as "Active Smart Textile”.
• Capable of sensing and reacting to the conditions or
stimulus. (Onofrei, Rocha and Catarino, 2010)
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18. MANUFACTURE OF PCM
18

19. Microencapsulation
• PCM is encapsulated in very small polymer
spheres to contain the liquid during phase
transition.
• The polymer spheres form a continuous
sealed matrix. (A.F Regin et al, 2008)
19

20. Microencapsulation
• PCM containment requirements:
– strength, flexibility and thermal stability
– Protect the PCM
– sufficient surface for heat transfer
– structural stability and easy handling
• Otherwise, the microencapsulation system will
suffer from low heat transfer rate. (A.F Regin et
al, 2008)
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21. Microencapsulation
http://tectexntu.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/2.jpg
• The most successful method of microencapsulation was given by Sarier
and Onder ( N.Sarier, E.Onder, 2007) , based on in-situ polymerization.
Seventy-seven percentage of microcapsules were obtained in the required
diameter and thickness.
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22. METHODS OF INCORPORATING PCM
IN TEXTILES
22

23. Incorporation of PCM in textiles
• Three main methods
Fiber
Coating Lamination
Technology
• PCM locked in • PCM dispersed • PCM added to a
fiber structure in a polymer thin polymeric
• Late injection binder film
technology • Applied over • Applied on the
• PCM added to fabric through fabric as a
polymer dope various laminate via
processes foam mix
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24. Incorporation of PCM
Outlast Thermo-molecules as a Outlast Thermo-molecules
coating on textiles locked into the textile fiber
http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/220752/530wm/H120 http://www.licensedelectrician.com/Store/O
0332-Phase_change_material,_SEM-SPL.jpg E/Images/Molecules.jpg
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25. PCM IN SPORTSWEAR
25

26. PCM in Sportwear
• Sportswear
• Thermal comfort contributes to human
performance.
• PCM interaction with the microclimate
between clothing and the body and respond
to temperature changes caused by activity
level and external environment.
26

27. PCM in Sportwear
• Quantity of PCM ≡ Level and duration of
activity for garment use
Thermal Balance
• Heat generated by body Heat released into
environment
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28. Research findings so far
• Several authors have experimentally verified that PCM
fabrics provide increased thermal comfort.
• Shu-Xiao Wang et al (2008) experimentally showed that
PCM treated clothing had thermo-regulating effect and
improved temperatures and humidity of inner layers during
exercise in an cold environment.
• According to Fan and Cheng (2005), thermal performance of
PCM is also influenced by the structure of the textile.
• Ghali et al (2004) showed that PCMs introduced into
garments can temporarily improve the thermal comfort. This
effect increases as PCM concentration increases, but the
thermal properties can decrease after laundering.
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29. Characterization of Thermal Properties of PCM
• Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC)
– Analyzes and quantifies material’s energy absorption and release.
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
– Identifying types of chemical bonds in molecule through IR
absorption spectrum
• Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA)
– Measures weight loss or weight gain as a function of temperature
• Infrared Thermography
– Produces ‘thermograms’ by detecting radiation in IR range
• Fabric Intelligent Hand Tester (FIHT)
– Measures, records and analyzes the thermal and mechanical
properties exhibited during hand evaluation process.
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30. Research findings so far
• Bendkowska and Wrzosek (2008) studied the thermo-
regulating properties of nonwovens treated with PCM and
found that
– TRF (Temperature Regulating Factor) depends on
amount of latent heat per unit area of fabric
– Method of microPCM distribution
– Position of microPCM layer.
• Bo-an Ying et al (2004) proposed three indices to
characterize the thermal performance of PCM fabrics.
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31. Current Market Scenario
• Outlast Technologies, Inc. manufactures exclusive
sportswear apparel using PCM fabrics.
http://www.outlast.com
• Comfortemp products with Thermasorb®
microcapsules are being manufactured by J&C
Microchem Inc.
http://www.microcapsule.com/come.htm
• Schoeller TextilAG http://www.schoeller-
textiles.com/
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32. Challenges and Opportunities
• Lack of standards and testing methods
• Durability, functionality under various
conditions will take a long time
• Practicality in everyday life
• Expanding the duration of thermal insulation
property
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33. References
• S. Mondal, Phase change materials for smart textiles – An overview, Applied Thermal Engineering, Volume 28, Issues
11-12, August 2008, Pages 1536-1550, ISSN 1359-4311, 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2007.08.009.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359431107002876) Keywords: Phase change materials; Clothing
comfort; Microencapsulation; Smart temperature adaptable fabrics
• Textiles integrating pcms – a review by elena onofrei, ana maria rocha and andré catarinobuletinul institutului politehnic
din iasi publicat de universitatea tehnică „gheorghe asachi” din iasi tomul LVI (LX), fasc. 2, 2010
• Bendkowska W., Kłonowska M., Kopias K., Bogdan A.; Thermal Manikin Evaluation of PCM Cooling Vests. FIBRES
& TEXTILES in Eastern Europe 2010, Vol. 18, No. 1 (78) pp. 70-74
• S.X. Wang, Y. Li, J.Y. Hu, Hiromi Tokura, Q.W. Song, Effect of phase-change material on energy consumption of
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9418, 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2006.01.018. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941806000894)
Keywords: PCM; Energy consumption; Thermal-protective clothing
• Nihal Sarier, Emel Onder, The manufacture of microencapsulated phase change materials suitable for the design of
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Microencapsulation; Phase change materials; Functional textiles; Thermal; Comfort; DSC
• Gordon Nelson, Application of microencapsulation in textiles, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume
242, Issues 1-2, 21 August 2002, Pages 55-62, ISSN 0378-5173, 10.1016/S0378-5173(02)00141-2.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517302001412) Keywords: Microencapsulation; Yeast; Textiles;
Fragrance; Phase-change materials
• A. Felix Regin, S.C. Solanki, J.S. Saini, Heat transfer characteristics of thermal energy storage system using PCM
capsules: A review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 12, Issue 9, December 2008, Pages 2438-
2458, ISSN 1364-0321, 10.1016/j.rser.2007.06.009.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032107001001) Keywords: PCM capsules; Packed bed; Thermal
energy storage
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