Multi-component fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of manufacturing thereof

Abstract

Multi-component fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of manufacturing thereof are described. In one embodiment, a multi-component fiber includes a fiber body formed from a set of elongated members, and at least one of the set of elongated members includes a temperature regulating material haying a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 22° C. to 40° C. The temperature regulating material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature. The multi-component fiber can be formed via a melt spinning process or a solution spinning process and can be used or incorporated in various products where a thermal regulating property is desired. For example, the multi-component fiber can be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, buildings, appliances, and other products.

1 . A multi-component fiber, comprising: 
 a fiber body formed from a plurality of elongated members, at least one of the plurality of elongated members comprising a temperature regulating material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 22° C. to 40° C., the temperature regulating material providing thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the latent heat of the temperature regulating material is at least 50 J/g.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the latent heat of the temperature regulating material is at least 60 J/g.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature regulating material comprises a non-encapsulated phase change material.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature regulating material comprises a phase change material and a plurality of microcapsules that contain the phase change material.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature regulating material comprises a polyhydric alcohol.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature regulating material comprises one of a polyethylene glycol, a polyethylene oxide, a polytetramethylene glycol, and a polyester.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature regulating material comprises a paraffinic hydrocarbon having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       9 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of elongated members further comprises a polymeric material, and the temperature regulating material is dispersed within the polymeric material.  
   
   
       10 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 9 , wherein the polymeric material comprises one of a polyacrylic, a polyamide, a polyester, and a polyolefin.  
   
   
       11 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of elongated members is a first elongated member, and the first elongated member is surrounded by a second elongated member of the plurality of elongated members.  
   
   
       12 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 11 , wherein the second elongated member forms an exterior of the fiber body.  
   
   
       13 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature regulating material is a first temperature regulating material, and the second elongated member comprises a second temperature regulating material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 22° C. to 40° C.  
   
   
       14 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 13 , wherein the first temperature regulating material and the second temperature regulating material are different.  
   
   
       15 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated members are arranged in one of an island-in-sea configuration, a segmented-pie configuration, a core-sheath configuration, a side-by-side configuration, and a striped configuration.  
   
   
       16 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 2 J/g.  
   
   
       17 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 5 J/g.  
   
   
       18 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 8 J/g.  
   
   
       19 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-component fiber is formed via one of a melt spinning process and a solution spinning process.  
   
   
       20 . A multi-component fiber, comprising: 
 a core member comprising a phase change material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 10° C. to 50° 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; and    a sheath member surrounding the core member and forming an exterior of the multi-component fiber.    
   
   
       21 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the latent heat of the phase change material is at least 50 J/g.  
   
   
       22 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the latent heat of the phase change material is at least 60 J/g.  
   
   
       23 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is in the range of 22° C. to 40° C.  
   
   
       24 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the core member further comprises a containment structure that contains the phase change material.  
   
   
       25 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of melting and crystallization of the phase change material at the transition temperature.  
   
   
       26 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the core member is concentrically positioned within the sheath member.  
   
   
       27 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the core member is eccentrically positioned within the sheath member.  
   
   
       28 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the core member comprises from 10 percent to 30 percent by weight of the phase change material.  
   
   
       29 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the phase change material is a first phase change material, and the sheath member comprises a second phase change material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 10° C. to 50° C.  
   
   
       30 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 29 , wherein the first phase change material and the second phase change material are different.  
   
   
       31 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 2 J/g.  
   
   
       32 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 5 J/g.  
   
   
       33 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 8 J/g.  
   
   
       34 . A multi-component fiber, comprising: 
 a plurality of island members, at least one of the plurality of island members comprising a phase change material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 10° C. to 50° 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; and    a sea member surrounding the plurality of island members and forming an exterior of the multi-component fiber.    
   
   
       35 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the latent heat of the phase change material is at least 50 J/g.  
   
   
       36 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the latent heat of the phase change material is at least 60 J/g.  
   
   
       37 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is in the range of 22° C. to 40° C.  
   
   
       38 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of island members further comprises a containment structure that contains the phase change material.  
   
   
       39 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of melting and crystallization of the phase change material at the transition temperature.  
   
   
       40 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of island members comprises from 10 percent to 30 percent by weight of the phase change material.  
   
   
       41 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of island members is a first island member, the phase change material is a first phase change material, and a second island member of the plurality of island members comprises a second phase change material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 10° C. to 50° C.  
   
   
       42 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 41 , wherein the first phase change material and the second phase change material are different.  
   
   
       43 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 2 J/g.  
   
   
       44 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 5 J/g.  
   
   
       45 . The multi-component fiber of  claim 34 , wherein the multi-component fiber has a latent heat of at least 8 J/g.  
   
   
       46 . A fabric, comprising: 
 a plurality of multi-component fibers blended together, each of the plurality of multi-component fibers comprising: 
 a fiber body formed from a plurality of elongated members, at least one of the plurality of elongated members comprising a phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of 22° C. to 40° C., the phase change material providing thermal regulation based on at least one of melting and crystallization of the phase change material at the transition temperature,  
   wherein the fabric has a latent heat of at least 2 J/g.    
   
   
       47 . The fabric of  claim 46 , wherein the phase change material comprises one of a polyethylene glycol, a polyethylene oxide, a polytetramethylene glycol, and a polyester.  
   
   
       48 . The fabric of  claim 46 , wherein the phase change material comprises a paraffinic hydrocarbon having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       49 . The fabric of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of elongated members are arranged in one of an island-in-sea configuration, a segmented-pie configuration, a core-sheath configuration, a side-by-side configuration, and a striped configuration.  
   
   
       50 . The fabric of  claim 46 , wherein the latent heat of the fabric is at least 5 J/g.  
   
   
       51 . The fabric of  claim 46 , wherein the latent heat of the fabric is at least 8 J/g.  
   
   
       52 . The fabric of  claim 46 , wherein the latent heat of the fabric is at least 11 J/g.  
   
   
       53 . The fabric of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of multi-component fibers are formed via one of a melt spinning process and a solution spinning process.