The impact of the heating/cooling rate on the thermoregulating properties of textile materials modified with PCM microcapsules

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of the different values of heating/cooling rate (1, 5, 10, 15°C/min) on thermal properties of textile materials modified with PCM microcapsules (MPCM). Polyester knitted and woven fabrics were coated with polymer pastes containing 40wt% of MPCM with the melting temperatures 18°C (MPCM18), 28°C (MPCM28) and their equilibrium mixture (MPCM18/28). SEM analysis revealed that the knitted fabric the surface is evenly coated with MPCM and on the woven fabric there are uncovered areas.DSC results have shown, that melting temperatures increased and crystallization temperatures decreased with the increase of the heating/cooling rate. For modified knitted fabrics the value of phase transitions enthalpy amounted 56–60J/g regardless of the type of MPCM used. In the case of the woven fabrics the value of enthalpy amounted 21–23J/g, 25–28J/g and 14–16J/g respectively for woven fabrics modified with MPCM18, MPCM28 and MPCM18/28. Presented research will evaluate the possibility of their use under changing ambient temperature conditions. The use of blends will allow the extension of MPCM modified textile materials working ranges. Analysis of the size of the heat effects and phase transitions temperature changes depending on the scanning rate will allow to the exact knowledge about the temperature ranges in which MPCM work, the thermal effects values which accompanied to this work by a changing ambient temperature conditions.