Cotton fabric containing photochromic microcapsules combined thermal energy storage features

Reversible photochromic microencapsulated phase change materials (RP-PCMs) not only possess color-changing performance under sunshine/UV, but also can adsorb, store or release amount of latent heat under certain temperature. A novel RP-PCMs were incorporated into cotton fabric by adopting the water-soluble polyurethane (WPU) as a medium. The combination of cotton fiber and RP-PCMs enabled cotton fiber with photochromic & thermo-regulated properties. Natural nontoxic biomaterial chitosan was selected as the raw material of RP-PCMs shell, providing favorable conditions for its further application in cotton fabric. Comprehensive analysis has shown that RP-PCMs was successfully integrated into cotton fabric. The thermal performance, thermal stability and thermo-regulated property of cotton fabric/WPU/RP-PCMs were systematically researched. Photochromic features were also investigated. The thermo-regulated property of cotton fabric/WPU/RP-PCMs was demonstrated through infrared camera indicating that the cotton fabric/WPU/RP-PCMs presented promising application in the flexible photochromic clothing field.