A new method for measuring the thermal regulatory properties of phase change material (PCM) fabrics

X. Wan, Jintu Fan

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Several methods already exist for the measurement of the thermal regulatory properties of fabrics containing phase change materials (PCMs). However, they do not adequately simulate the actual use condition; consequently the measurements may not have relevance to the performance of PCM fabrics in actual use. Here we report on the development of a new method, which better simulates the real use situation. In this method, a hot plate, simulating the human body, generates a constant amount of heat depending on the type of human activity to be simulated. The hot plate covered by the PCM fabric is then exposed to a thermal transient simulating a wearer moving from one thermal environment to another; the changes of surface temperature and heat loss of the hot plate are then recorded and used to characterize the thermal regulatory properties of the PCM fabrics. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Article number025110
JournalMeasurement Science and Technology
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2009

Keywords

  • Phase change material
  • Testing method
  • Thermal regulating

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Instrumentation
  • Applied Mathematics

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