TEMPERATURE REGULATING POLYESTER SHORT STAPLE RING SPUN YARNS BY PCM NANOCAPSULE APPLICATION

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) are thermal energy storage materials and therefore they are used for the manufacturing of heat-storage and thermo-regulated textiles. In this study, it was aimed to produce polyester spun yarns with thermo-regulation function via an alternative capsule application method. In the study, PMMA-co-MAA walled nanocapsules were synthesized by emulsion polymerization method and an alternative capsule application method was used to apply PCM nanocapsules into the staple polyester yarn structure during the yarn production process. Ne 30/1 polyester ring spun yarns with knitted twist were produced and some of the PCM nanocapsule and produced yarn properties were analyzed. According to the results, PCM nanocapsules had dimensions around 200-400 nm, uniform size distribution and spherical morphology. They could store approximately 100 j/g heat and had sufficient thermal resistance. With the developed capsule application method, nanocapsules were successfully applied to spun yarn structure and produced polyester yarns exhibited temperature differences in the range of 2-5 °C compared with undoped reference ring spun yarns. The results of the study indicated that this application method could be an alternative to fabricate thermo-regulating fabric surfaces and such integrated yarn materials have demonstrated promising potential for the production of thermoregulating textile material.