Abstract:
A thermal barrier comprises a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, and a base material positioned between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer. The base material comprises a plurality of regions and a barrier zone separating the regions. The thermal barrier further comprises a non-encapsulated phase change material impregnating one or more of the regions. The barrier zone hinders migration of the phase change material in its liquid state within the base material, and the first barrier layer is bonded to the second barrier layer to enclose the base material. The thermal barrier may be used or incorporated in various products or applications where thermal management is desired. For example, the thermal barrier may be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packaging, buildings, appliances, and other products.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a multi-component fiber having enhanced reversible thermal properties. The multi-component fiber comprises a fiber body formed from a plurality of elongated members, at least one of the elongated members having a temperature regulating material dispersed therein. The temperature regulating material comprises a phase change material. The multi-component fiber may be used or incorporated in various articles and applications where a thermal regulating property is desired. For example, the multi-component fiber may be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, buildings, appliances, and other products.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a multi-component fiber having enhanced reversible thermal properties. The multi-component fiber comprises a fiber body formed from a plurality of elongated members, at least one of the elongated members having a temperature regulating material dispersed therein. The temperature regulating material comprises a phase change material. The multi-component fiber may be used or incorporated in various articles and applications where a thermal regulating property is desired. For example, the multi-component fiber may be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, buildings, appliances, and other products.
Abstract:
An interactive thermal insulating system of the present invention includes at least three layers. The first layer (21) is a high density layer comprising a substrate (31) coated with a polymer binder (32) in which a plurality of microspheres (33) containing a phase change material (34) are dispersed. The second layer (22) is a low density fibrous mesh (42) in which individual fibers contain a plurality of microspheres (43) containing a phase change material (44) dispersed therein. A third layer (23) is a flexible substrate. The fibrous mesh is sandwiched between the coated layer and the third layer. The layers are bonded together by stitching at regular intervals, lamination, or other methods of connection. Most preferably, the phase change material contained in the microspheres include paraffinic hydrocarbons.
Abstract:
A coating composition for fabrics includes wetted microspheres containing a phase change material dispersed throughout a polymer binder, a surfactant, a dispersant, an antifoam agent and a thickener. Preferred phase change materials include paraffinic hydrocarbons. The microspheres may be microencapsulated. To prepare the coating composition, microspheres containing phase change material are wetted and dispersed in a dispersion in a water solution containing a surfactant, a dispersant, an antifoam agent and a polymer mixture. The coating is then applied to a fabric. In an alternative embodiment, an extensible fabric (24) is coated with an extensible binder (12) containing microencapsulated phase change material (14) to form an extensible, coated fabric (10). The coated fabric (10) is optionally flocked with fibers (18). The coated, extensible fabrics are manufactured using transfer techniques.
Abstract:
The technique of the present invention for minimizing the floor-to-ceiling temperature gradient of a room containing a ceiling, a floor, walls and at least one door and one window, includes the utilization of a phase change material adjacent the ceiling surface and a phase change material adjacent the floor surface. In order to effectively minimize the floor-to-ceiling temperature gradient of the room, first and second phase change materials may be either the same or different, or may be blends of phase change materials. Most preferably, the melting temperature of the first phase change material adjacent the ceiling is greater than the crystallization temperature of the second phase change material adjacent the floor. Preferably, the melting temperature of the first phase change material is 25 °C plus or minus 1 °C and the crystallization temperature of the second phase change material is 22 °C plus or minus 1 °C.
Abstract:
In accordance with one aspect, a thermally regulating construction material comprises a base material and a polymeric phase change material bound to the base material, wherein the base material provides reversible temperature regulation properties to the building construction material. In accordance with another aspect, an insulation material for use in building construction comprises a base material and a polymeric phase change material bound to the base material, wherein the base material provides reversible temperature regulation properties to the insulation material. The base material may be selected from the group consisting of foam insulation, loose fill insulation, and batted insulation.
Abstract:
Multi-component fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of manufacturing thereof are described. In one embodiment, a multi-component fiber includes a fiber body formed from a set of elongated members, and at least one of the set of elongated members includes a temperature regulating material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 22 °C to 40 °C. The temperature regulating material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature. The multi-component fiber can be formed via a melt spinning process or a solution spinning process and can be used or incorporated in various products where a thermal regulating property is desired. For example, the multi-component fiber can be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, buildings, appliances, and other products.