Microcapsules and Other Containment Structures for Articles Incorporating Functional Polymeric Phase Change Materials

• US 20090035557A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outlast Technologies GmbH
• Original Assignee: Outlast Technologies, Incorporated
• Inventors: Eyal, Aharon, Hartmann, Mark, Raz, Carmi
• Granted Patent: US 8,404,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/331
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 201/02 characterised by the presence of specified groups , e.g. terminal or pendant functional groups
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/08 Materials not undergoing a change of physical state when used C09K5/16, C09K5/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/404 Yarns or threads coated with polymeric solutions
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/12 Processes in which the treating agent is incorporated in microcapsules making microcapsules B01J13/02
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2400/01 Creating covalent bondings between the treating agent and the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/0068 Polymeric granules, particles or powder, e.g. core-shell particles, microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/023 the latent heat storage material being enclosed in granular particles or dispersed in a porous, fibrous or cellular structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/259 Silicic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2927 including structurally defined particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2984 Microcapsule with fluid core [includes liposome]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/20 Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer

Abstract

An article comprises a substrate, a first functional polymeric phase change material, and a plurality of containment structures that contain the first functional polymeric phase change material. The article may further comprise a second phase change material chemically bound to at least one of the plurality of containment structures or the substrate. In certain embodiments, the article further comprises a second phase change material and a binder that contains at least one of the first polymeric phase change material and the second phase change material. The containment structure may b a microcapsule or a particulate confinement material.

Claims

1. An article, comprising:

a substrate,

a first functional polymeric phase change material; and

a plurality of containment structures that contain the first functional polymeric phase change material.

2. An article according to claim 1, further comprising a second phase change material chemically bound to at least one of the plurality of containment structures and the substrate.

3. An article according to claim 2 further comprising a second phase change material, and a binder that contains at least one of the first polymeric phase change material and the second phase change material.

4. An article according to claim 1, wherein the containment structure is a microcapsule.

5. An article according to claim 1, wherein the containment structure is a first particulate confinement material.

6. An article according to claim 5, wherein the first particulate confinement material is selected from a group consisting of microcapsules, silica, graphite, carbon or activated carbon, zeolites, organoclays, vermiculite, oil-adsorbing polymers and oil super-adsorbents.

7. An article according to claim 1, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material is characterized in carrying at least one reactive function, wherein the reactive function is capable of forming a covalent bond.

8. An article according to claim 1, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material is characterized in carrying at least one reactive function, wherein the reactive function is capable of forming an electrovalent interaction.

9. An article according to claim 1, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material is characterized in carrying a plurality of reactive functions.

10. An article according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of reactive functions are capable of forming at least two covalent bonds, at least two electrovalent bonds or at least one covalent bond and one electrovalent bond.

11. An article according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of containment structures are a particulate confinement material and wherein the second phase change material is at least partially contained in or adsorbed in the particulate confinement material.

12. An article according to claim 5, wherein the first particulate confinement material carries at least one reactive function capable of forming at least one of a covalent bond and an electrovalent bond.

13. An article according to claim 12, wherein the first particulate confinement material is characterized in carrying a plurality of reactive functions.

14. An article according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of reactive functions are capable of forming at least two covalent bonds, at least two electrovalent bonds or at least one covalent bond and one electrovalent bond.

15. An article according to claim 5 further comprising a binder and a second functional polymeric phase change material, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material is bound to at least one of the substrate, the binder, the first particulate confinement material and the second functional polymeric phase change material.

16. An article according to claim 5, further comprising a second particulate confinement material, wherein the first particulate confinement material is bound to at least one of the substrate, the first functional polymeric phase change material and the second particulate confinement material.

17. An article according to claim 2 wherein the bond is formed via a connecting compound.

18. An article according to claim 17, wherein the connecting compound is selected from a group consisting of functional polymeric phase change materials and particulate confinement structures.

19. An article according to claim 2, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material forms a binder for at least a portion of the second phase change material.

20. An article according to claim 1, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material has at least one phase change temperature in the range between −

10°

C. and 100°

C.

21. An article according to claim 2, wherein the second phase change material has at least one phase change temperature in the range between −

10°

C. and 100°

C.

22. An article according to claim 1, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material has a phase change enthalpy of at least 2.0 Joules per gram.

23. An article according to claim 2, wherein the second phase change material has a phase change enthalpy of at least 2.0 Joules per gram.

24. An article according to claim 1, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material comprises at least one hydrophilic crystallizable section.

25. An article according to claim 1, wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material comprises at least one hydrophobic crystallizable section.