Temperature regulating cellulosic fibers and applications thereof

• US 7,579,078 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Outlast Technologies GmbH
• Original Assignee: Outlast Technologies, Incorporated
• Inventors: North, Matthew, Worley, James B., Hartmann, Mark H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salvatore; Lynda
• Application Number:
  US11/495,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 428/373, 428/374, 428/393, 428/402, 428/402.2, 428/402.21, 428/401
• US Class Current: 428/373
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/08 for forming hollow filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 2/00 Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of cellulose or cellulose derivatives; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/04 from synthetic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/04 from fleeces or layers composed of fibres having existing or potential cohesive properties, e.g. natural fibres, prestretched or fibrillated artificial fibres felting apparatus D04H17/00
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/70 characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2929 Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2931 Fibers or filaments nonconcentric [e.g., side-by-side or eccentric, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2935 Discontinuous or tubular or cellular core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2965 Cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/298 Physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• 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 442/637 Including strand or fiber material which is a monofilament composed of two or more polymeric materials in physically distinct relationship [e.g., sheath-core, side-by-side, islands-in-sea, fibrils-in-matrix, etc.] or composed of physical blend of chemically different polymeric materials or a physical blend of a polymeric material and a filler material

Abstract

Cellulosic fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and applications of such cellulosic fibers are described. In one embodiment, a cellulosic fiber includes a fiber body including a cellulosic material and a set of microcapsules dispersed in the cellulosic material. The set of microcapsules contain a phase change material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 0° C. to 100° C., and the phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature. The cellulosic fiber can be formed via a solution spinning process, and can be used in various products where thermal regulating properties are desired.

Claims

1. A cellulosic fiber comprising:

a fiber body including a cellulosic material and a plurality of microcapsules dispersed in the cellulosic material, the plurality of microcapsules containing a phase change material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 0°

C. to 100°

C., the phase change material providing thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature, wherein the cellulosic fiber includes from 5 percent to 40 percent by weight of the plurality of microcapsules containing the phase change material.

2. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic material includes one of cellulose and cellulose acetate.

3. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microcapsules have sizes in the range 0.1 to 20 microns.

4. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microcapsules are monodisperse with respect to sizes of the plurality of microcapsules.

5. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the latent heat of the phase change material is in the range of 60 J/g to 400 J/g.

6. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is in the range of 0°

C. to 50°

C.

7. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the phase change material includes a paraffinic hydrocarbon.

8. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the phase change material includes a polyhydric alcohol.

9. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the phase change material includes one of a polyethylene glycol, a polyethylene oxide, a polytetramethylene glycol, and a polyester.

10. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic fiber has a moisture absorbency in the range of 6 percent to 15 percent.

11. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic fiber is from 0.1 decitex to 60 decitex.

12. A fabric comprising:

a plurality of cellulosic fibers blended together, the plurality of cellulosic fibers including a cellulosic fiber having enhanced reversible thermal properties and including;

a fiber body including an elongated member, the elongated member including a cellulosic material and a temperature regulating material dispersed within the cellulosic material, the temperature regulating material including a phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of 0°

C. to 50°

C.

wherein the cellulosic fiber is a first cellulosic fiber, the temperature regulating material is a first temperature regulating material, and the plurality of cellulosic fibers include a second cellulosic fiber having enhanced reversible thermal properties and including a second temperature regulating material.

13. The fabric of claim 12, wherein the first temperature regulating material and the second temperature regulating material are different.