Modelling method to evaluate the thermo-regulating behaviour of micro-encapsulated PCMs coated fabric

Abstract

Micro-encapsulated Phase Change Materials (MicroPCMs) have been widely used to enhance the thermal comfort of the clothing; they can be applied to fabric by various techniques including the coating process. Phase change material (PCM) has a unique property of latent heat that can absorb and release energy over a constant temperature range which enhances the thermal comfort of the clothing microenvironment. PCM textile structures are used in making smart textiles and thermo-regulated garments. An advanced modelling technique was successfully established to develop a finite element model of woven fabrics coated by MicroPCMs, the developed model was used to simulate and predict the effective thermal conductivity and thermal resistance.