Smart and robust phase change cellulose fibers from coaxial wet-spinning of cellulose nanofibril-reinforced paraffin capsules with excellent thermal management

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 346; p. 122649
• Main Authors: Yang, Kang, Duan, Chao, Ma, Ruoteng, Liu, Xiaoshuang, Meng, Zixuan, Xie, Zengyin, Ni, Yonghao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.12.2024
• Subjects: Cellulose nanofibril (CNF); Phase change capsule; Phase change fiber; Regenerated cellulose fiber; Thermal management; Thermal management; Regenerated cellulose fiber; Cellulose nanofibril (CNF); Phase change capsule; Phase change fiber
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122649

Phase change fibers (PCFs), incorporating with diverse phase change materials (PCMs) such as paraffin wax (PW), have been recognized as one of the effective strategies for fabricate smart thermoregulatory textiles. However, some fatal defects exist in traditional paraffin-cellulose-based PCFs, including the paraffin leakage and the low fiber strength. In this work, we herein propose a facile method to prepare uniform and stable paraffin emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), followed by a simple coaxial wet spinning to develop smart and robust cellulose-based PCFs for human body temperature management. Benefiting from the CNF-reinforced encapsulation, the stability of paraffin capsules and the compatibility of cellulose and paraffin are indeed promoted, thus allowing the cellulose-based PCF with excellent mechanical strength, leakage prevention, and thermal regulation. As a result, the as-prepared PCF, namely CNF1-PE/PW with optimal 1 wt% CNF1 loading, features a high tensile stress of 10.95 MPa at a strain of 111.2 % and a phase-change enthalpy value of 140.24 J/g with a slight paraffin leakage rate of 0.9 %. Moreover, the corresponding wearable fabric exhibits an excellent thermal storage and release recyclability even after 50 cycles. Therefore, this study provides a new idea for the development of intelligent cellulose-based phase change fiber materials. [Display omitted]