Articles containing functional polymeric phase change materials and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

An article comprises a substrate and a functional polymeric phase change material bound to the substrate. In some aspects the functional polymeric phase change material is chemically bound to the substrate and can be accomplished by at least one of covalent bonding or electrovalent bonding. The functional polymeric phase change material can comprise a reactive function selected from the group consisting of an acid anhydride group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkyl group, an aldehyde group, an amide group, an amino group and their salts, a N-substituted amino group, an aziridine, an aryl group, a carbonyl group, a carboxy group and their salts, an epoxy group, an ester group, an ether group, a glycidyl group, a halo group, a hydride group, a hydroxy group, an isocyanate group, a thiol group, a disulfide group, a silyl or silane group, an urea group, and an urethane group, and wherein the substrate comprises at least one of cellulose, wool, fur, leather, polyester and nylon. Methods of producing the articles are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature regulating article comprising:
 a substrate;   a first functional polymeric phase change material bound to the substrate,   wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material dynamically absorbs and releases heat to adjust heat transfer at or within a temperature stabilizing range and has at least one phase change temperature in the range between −10 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius and a phase change enthalpy of at least 2 Joules per gram, the first functional polymeric phase change material including a plurality of polymer chains that include a plurality of side chains and a phase change material;   wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material carries at least one reactive function that cross-links one or more of the plurality of side chains to each of,   a portion of the substrate, and   a second functional polymeric phase change material capable of reacting with a reactive function of the substrate;   wherein the first functional polymeric phase change material and the substrate are crosslinked by the reactive function.