| Ciba Specialty Chemicals is introducing Ciba® ENCAPSULENCE® PC140, a microencapsulated phase change material for use on textiles and fabrics. The new textile treatment offers a high degree of temperature regulation, resulting in a very consistent level of thermal comfort. Ciba® ENCAPSULENCE® PC140 represents a radical shift from traditional trapped-air insulation. Ciba Specialty Chemicals’ Water & Paper Treatment Segment has developed the phase change material in micro particle form and, when utilised within textiles and fabrics, these capsules work interactively with the wearer's body. This product can therefore store heat and keep the body warmer and comfortable longer in more extreme environmental and temperature conditions. Phase change materials absorb, store or release heat as they cycle between solid and liquid forms. Heat can be liberated on cooling and absorbed on heating. During physical activity, the wearer's excessive body heat increases and is absorbed by the encapsulated phase change materials. As activity ceases, the body cools and the microcapsule returns the stored heat back to the wearer. The micro particle form of Ciba® ENCAPSULENCE® PC140 protects the phase change material during the manufacturing process as well as in its end use application by the consumer. The phase change material is permanently entrapped in its micro particle form meaning that the effect it offers is not diminished through use. Phase change material confinement by micro encapsulation facilitates their incorporation into a wide variety of applications - fibres, fabrics, refrigeration, automotive, shipping, buildings, heat exchangers, electronics, floor coverings, packaging where their energy storage properties can be put to good use. Ciba® ENCAPSULENCE® PC140 is utilized within textiles and fabrics for Outlast® thermal regulation. Outlast Technologies Inc., hold technology licenses to sell temperature regulation compounds to the fibre & textile industry. The technology is based on microcapsules, which are spun into acrylic fibres by Acordis UK at Grimsby for Outlast®. |