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Thermoregulation properties of composite phase change materials in high temperature environmental conditions

Kai Yang (School of Fashion, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China)
Mingli Jiao (School of Materials & Chemical Engineering, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China)
Sifan Wang (School of Fashion, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China)
Yuanyuan Yu (School of Fashion, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China)
Quan Diao (School of Materials & Chemical Engineering, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China)
Jian Cao (School of Materials & Chemical Engineering, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China)

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology

ISSN: 0955-6222

Article publication date: 17 July 2018

Issue publication date: 14 August 2018

246

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate thermoregulation properties of different composite phase change materials (PCMs), which could be used in the high temperature environmental conditions to protect human body against the extra heat flow.

Design/methodology/approach

Three kinds of composite PCM samples were prepared using the selected pure PCMs, including n-hexadecane, n-octadecane and n-eicosane. The DSC experiment was performed to get the samples’ phase change temperature range and enthalpy. The simulated high temperature experiments were performed using human arms in three different high temperature conditions (40°C, 45°C, 50°C), and the skin temperature variation curves varying with time were obtained. Then a comprehensive index TGP was introduced from the curves and calculated to evaluate the thermoregulation properties of different composite PCM samples comprehensively.

Findings

Results show that the composite PCM samples could provide much help to the high temperature human body. It could decrease the skin temperature quickly in a short time and it will not cause the over-cooling phenomenon. Comparing with other two composite PCM samples, the thermoregulation properties of the n-hexadecane and n-eicosane composite PCM is the best.

Originality/value

Using the n-hexadecane and n-eicosane composite PCM may provide people with better protection against the high temperature conditions, which is significative for the manufacture of functional thermoregulating textiles, garments or equipments.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Science and Technology Project of Henan Province (No. 152102210151), Program for Interdisciplinary Direction Team in Zhongyuan University of Technology, China.

Citation

Yang, K., Jiao, M., Wang, S., Yu, Y., Diao, Q. and Cao, J. (2018), "Thermoregulation properties of composite phase change materials in high temperature environmental conditions", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 507-516. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-11-2017-0173

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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