Fabrication of polyester-based yarns and fabrics with thermoregulation function containing thermal energy storage material

Due to their high latent heat and energy transfer capacity, phase change materials (PCMs) are one of the most promising ways to control heat transfer between the body and the environment, and thus to develop thermo-regulating textiles. The present study proposed an alternative application method to overcome some technological issues which need to be studied in detail in the development of thermo-regulating textiles with PCMs. The method was based on the integration of PCM nanocapsules into the inner and outer structure of the resulting yarn using spun yarn production technology. Ring spinning, which dominates the spun yarn market, was preferred for the application to contribute to industrial applicability. In the study, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (P(MMA-co-MAA)) wall and 1-tetradecanol core nanocapsules were applied to polyester staple fibres during yarn spinning at different application conditions such as nanocapsule concentrations (3% and 9%) and feeding rate (62.5, 67.5, 72.5 and 77.5 ml/h) values. Various properties of yarn and fabric samples were analysed. Thermal measurements indicated that PCM nanocapsule-incorporated polyester yarns exhibited lower temperature values, ranging from 2.6 degrees C to 4.8 degrees C, compared to virgin polyester yarns during the heating process. Higher temperature differences were obtained in fabrics than in yarns, and after washing and rubbing, the fabrics with PCMs still showed lower surface temperatures compared to virgin fabric. The difference ranged from 6-7 degrees C for washed fabrics to 8.5-8.0 degrees C for rubbed fabrics. The lower surface temperatures measured in PCM nanocapsule-doped yarns and fabrics were due to the cooling effect resulting from the heat absorption of PCM in the structure. It was determined that the developed textile structures offer significant thermoregulation performance. The proposed application method could be considered an alternative approach to producing thermo-regulating spun yarns and expanding the practical use of PCM-incorporated textile materials in the smart textile market, given its features such as satisfactory thermoregulation function, maintenance of functionality and air-permeable structure.