Stable phase change materials for use in temperature regulating synthetic fibers, fabrics and textiles

• US 6,689,466 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Outlast Technologies, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Outlast Technologies, Incorporated
• Inventors: Hartmann, Mark H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nutter, Nathan M.
• Application Number:
  US09/960,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 428/402.2, 428/402.21, 428/402.24, 428/403, 428/407, 427/230
• US Class Current: 428/402.2
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/02 Alignment layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/06 the change of state being from liquid to solid or vice versa
• 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: 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: Y10T 428/249997 Encapsulated liquid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2984 Microcapsule with fluid core [includes liposome]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2985 Solid-walled microcapsule from synthetic polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2989 Microcapsule with solid core [includes liposome]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer

Abstract

A stabilized phase change composition comprises a phase change material and a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of antioxidants and thermal stabilizers. The stabilizing agent provides oxidative or thermal stabilization to the phase change material. The stabilized phase change composition may be used or incorporated in a variety of processes (e.g., melt spinning processes, extrusion processes, injection molding processes, and so forth) to form articles having enhanced reversible thermal properties. Exemplary articles that may be formed include, by way of example and not by limitation, synthetic fibers (e.g., nylon fibers, polyester fibers, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, and multi-component fibers), fabric materials, textiles, films, foams, sheets, pellets, granules, rods, and injection molded articles.

Claims

1. An encapsulated phase change material comprising:

a hollow shell defining an internal cavity; and

a phase change composition positioned in the internal cavity, wherein the phase change composition comprises a phase change material and a thermal stabilizer.

2. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1, wherein the hollow shell has a maximum linear dimension less than 100 microns.

3. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1, wherein the phase change material is a hydrocarbon or a mixture of hydrocarbons.

4. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1, wherein the phase change composition further comprises a sterically hindered phenolic antioxidant.

5. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1 wherein the thermal stabilizer is a phosphite.

6. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1, wherein the thermal stabilizer is a phosphonite.

7. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1, wherein the phase change composition comprises from about 0.01 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the thermal stabilizer.

8. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1, wherein the phase change composition comprises from about 0.02 percent to about 1 percent by weight of the thermal stabilizer.

9. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1, wherein the phase change composition further comprises an antioxidant.

10. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 9, wherein the antioxidant is a phenolic antioxidant.

11. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 1, wherein the antioxidant is a thioether antioxidant.

12. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 9, wherein the phase change composition comprises from about 0.01 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the antioxidant.

13. The encapsulated phase change material of claim 9, wherein the phase change composition comprises from about 0.02 percent to about 1 percent by weight of the antioxidant.