Improvement of Thermoregulating Performance for Outlast/Silk Fabric by the Incorporation of Polyurethane Microcapsule Containing Paraffin

The purpose of this work is to improve the thermoregulating performance of Outlast/silk fabric by means of the incorporation of polyurethane microcapsules containing paraffin The effect of degumming and dyeing process on the heat storage capacity of Outlast/silk fabric was investigated. The endothermic enthalpy of Outlast/silk fabric was found to decrease from 5.41 J/g to 3.94 J/g after that processes. Polyurethane (PU) microcapsules were prepared with paraffin to serve as the core and polyurethane as the shell. The microstructure, morphology as well as phase-change property were systematically characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectra (FUR), Optical Microscope (OM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Subsequently, the prepared PU microcapsules were coated onto the Outlast/silk fabric by a conventional coating technique. The results showed that the endothermic enthalpy of the resultant fabric increased to 7.71 J/g, and the prepared PU microcapsules were firmly adhered on the surface of Outlast/silk fabric.