Temperature-Adaptable Fabrics

Treatment of polyester, nylon 66, cotton, and wool fabrics with aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol phase change materials and of plastic crystal compounds by a conventional pad-dry procedure produced modified fabrics with thermal storage and release properties 2-2.5 times greater than those of untreated fabrics at the same temperature intervals. These modified or temperature-adaptable fabrics are chemically impregnated with phase change or plastic crystal substances that impart balanced thermal storage and release properties at various temperature ranges. Application of another plastic crystal compound in aqueous solution to the fabrics under these con ditions was not suitable, since it sublimed during the fabric drying process. Fiber type and heating rate appeared to have little effect on the overall heat content or thermal performance of the treated fabrics. As in earlier studies, thermal storage and release properties of the modified fabrics were reproducible after 5 cycles and remained es sentially constant for at least 50 heating and cooling cycles.