Thermal storage/release, durability, and temperature sensing properties of thermostatic fabrics treated with octadecane-containing microcapsules

To develop a thermostatic fabric, a 100% polyester fabric is treated with octadecane-containing microcapsules by a knife-over-roll coating process. The amount of heat content increases as the concentration of microcapsules increases, and it decreases as the temperature and time increase. The surfactant treatment at a given microcapsule concentration increases the heat content of the treated fabrics about 56-94%. The durability of the coated microcapsules lasts for about ten launderings. The treated fabric becomes stiffer and less smooth, soft, and full than the untreated fabric; as shown by KES measurements. Wear trials with the untreated and treated garments in a conditioned environment confirm the temperature sensing properties of treated garments. The cooling effect from thermal storage of the octadecane-containing microcapsules is revealed by results showing that the changes in the mean skin and microclimate temperature with the treated garment are less than for those wearing the untreated garment.