Heat balance of textile materials modified with the mixtures of PCM microcapsules

The aim of the study was to assess thermo-regulating properties of the knitted fabric, modified with homogeneous microcapsules of PCM (MPCM) and their mixtures. MPCM containing the following hydrocarbons: n-tetradecane (C14H30), n-Hexadecane (C16H34), n-Octadecane (C18H38), n-Eicosane (C20H42) and a mixture of paraffins were used for the study. Melting points of the MPCM examined amounted to 6–43 °C. A 100% PET column knitwear fabric with a weight of 72.80 g/m2 was modified with a polymer paste containing 40% of MPCM and binders. The thermo-regulating properties of both MPCM in the form of powder and the modified knitted fabric were assessed and the heat balance of the fabric modified was measured by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results of DSC have showed that: - the exploitation of MPCM heat in the modified knitwear fabric determined by the effectiveness coefficient K amounts to 31%; - the use of MPCM mixtures for the modification of knitted fabrics extents the temperature range of the textile thermo-regulating properties in relation to homogeneous MPCM.