Thermal Properties and Physiological Responses of Vapor-Permeable Water-Repellent Fabrics Treated with Microcapsule-Containing PCMs

• Published in: Textile research journal Vol. 74; no. 7; pp. 571 - 575
• Main Authors: Chung, Hyehin, Cho, Gilsoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.2004; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: air; crystallization; Experiments; Fabrics; heat; humidity; microclimate; Nylon; permeability; Physical properties; physiological response; Physiological responses; skin temperature; textile fibers; Thermal energy; Thermal properties; Water; water vapor
• ISSN: 0040-5175; 1746-7748
• DOI: 10.1177/004051750407400702

The purpose of this study is to develop a thermally adaptable, vapor-permeable water-repellent fabric. Vapor-permeable water-repellent fabrics with and without octade cane-containing microcapsules are obtained by a wet porous coating process. The thermal and physical properties of the octadecane-containing water-repellent fabrics (WR-PCM) are compared with the water-repellent fabric without octadecane (WR). The heat of fusion ( ΔHf ) of WR-PCM is 13.50 J/g at 29.06°C, and the heat of crystallization (ΔHf ) is 14.02 J/g at 11.45°C. The thermal properties remain relatively high after thirty launderings. WR-PCM shows a lower water vapor transmission value than WR and a lower air permeability. The water repellency of both fabrics is 100%, but the water resistance of WR-PCM decreases dramatically. In wear trials, the mean skin temperature and microclimate temperature of subjects wearing active wear made with WR-PCM are lower than those made with WR. But the microclimate humidity with WR-PCM has a higher rate than WR. Although the subjective sensations of WR and WR-PCM are not significantly different, WR-PCM is cooler and more comfortable than WR. The results of this study indicate that octadecane- containing microcapsules in water-repellent fabrics provide a cooling effect but sacrifice water resistance.