Phase change materials incorporated throughout the structure of polymer fibers

• US 5,885,475 A
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Dayton
• Original Assignee: University of Dayton
• Inventors: Salyer, Ival O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoke, Veronica P.
• Application Number:
  US08/710,871
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 252/70, 165/10, 165/53, 528/66, 528/301, 528/425, 528/403, 528/405, 523/222, 524/386, 524/493
• US Class Current: 252/70
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/063 Materials absorbing or liberating heat during crystallisation; Heat storage materials
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/46 of polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/66 from polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/92 of polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/94 of other polycondensation products

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a fiber composition comprising a fiber forming polymer and a phase change material integrally incorporated throughout the fiber forming polymer which is either a polyalkylene oxide, polyalkylene ether or mixture of various polyolefins. The phase change material has a melting temperature between about 15° C. and about 65° C. The fiber composition can be used as a loose fill insulating material for use in clothing or bedding articles or can be formed into a fabric for the same uses.

Claims

1. An article of clothing formed, at least in part, from a melt mix polymer fiber, said melt mix polymer comprising a mixture by weight percent of about 15-22% of a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, and a higher melting polypropylene, about 7-12% of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, about 7-16% of silica particles, and about 55-60% of a long alkyl hydrocarbon chain phase change material.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the phase change material has a melting temperature between about 15°

C. and about 65°

C.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the melt mix polymer comprises about 60% phase change material, about 16-22% polyolefin, about 8-12% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and about 8-16% silica particles.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein the melt mix polymer comprises 55% phase change material, about 15-21% polyolefin, about 7-11% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, about 7-15% silica particles and about 7.5% microwave absorbing additive.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the melt mix polymer fiber is formed into a fiber by melt spinning.