Encapsulation of PCM for Thermo-Regulating Fabric Application

Subhas Ghosh, Prasad Bhatkhande

College of Technology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ijoc.2012.24050                

Abstract

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been used as a phase change material (PCM) to create a thermo-regulating fabric. PEG-600 (Mw) was encapsulated using an in-situ polymerization technique in an oil-in water emulsion with encapsulating water-immiscible liquid by the reaction of urea with formaldehyde at acidic pH. Both FTIR analysis and DSC studies verified the formation of PEG microcapsules (MC). Melting temperature (Tm) of the microcapsules was found approximately 21°C which was the same as neat PEG. The heat storage capacity of these MCs was determined to be 12.78 J/g by DSC analysis. FTIR analysis of the MCs exhibited the peaks at 3211 cm^﹣1, 1650 cm^﹣1, and 1400 cm^﹣1. These are the characteristic absorption peaks of -NH₂, -C=O stretching and -CH bending vibrations, respectively. Fabric coated with PEG microcapsules showed a 20% higher thermal resistance, than the uncoated fabric, when heated on a Sweating Hot Plate (MTNW Corporation).

Keywords

Phase Change Material; Micro-Encapsulation; PEG

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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