Melamine formaldehyde microcapsules containing octadecane are synthesized by the interfacial polymerization method, and the size, shape, and thermal storage/release prop erties of the synthesized microcapsules are analyzed by FTIR, SEM, and DSC. Polyester fabrics are then coated with the microcapsules under various conditions of concentration and time/temperature by the knife-over-roll (KOR) and screen printing (SP) methods. The thermal, mechanical, and physical properties of the untreated and treated fabrics are evaluated to identify the best adhesive method. The mean diameter of the microcapsules ranges from 1 to 1.5 μm, and their shapes are almost spherical. Under the optimum treatment concentration, temperature, and time, thermal properties after five launderings decrease rapidly, and the bending and shear rigidities of the KOR fabrics are higher than those of the sp fabrics. This means that fabrics coated by sp become less stiff and hard than those by KOR. sp fabrics exhibit higher air permeability and lower hygroscopic properties than KOR fabrics.

The aim of this research was to develop a usability evaluation model based on customer sensation using quality function deployment (QFD), which evaluates the relationship between consumer sensation and usability among the physical design factors of dishwashers. Four aspects of the evaluation model were analyzed with QFD: overall sensation factors, detail sensation factors, usability evaluation factors, and physical design factors of products in 3 sequential processes. The sensation evaluation factors and the usability evaluation factors were created from the results of the sensation and usability tests. Moreover, experts and manufacturers were involved in selecting the physical design factors. With the evaluation model using these 4 aspects, physical design factors influencing user sensation were generated. These factors were Label Icon, Rack Size, Shape of Knob, and LCD size. In addition, the degree of influences was tested and design guidelines derived from the final physical design factors were generated. C 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Textiles treated with nanoencapsulated phase change materials (nanoPCMs) were used to examine their suitability as clothing materials to prepare thermostatic clothes for absorbing or releasing heat according to heat fluctuation between the body and the environment. To this end, the physical and mechanical properties of fabrics treated with nanoPCMs, such as nano-nonadecane and nano-octadecane, were evaluated after we confirmed the morphology and thermal efficiency of the nanoPCMs. The nanoPCMs were almost spherical, with an irregular size distribution between 200 and 400 nm. The heat of fusion and peak temperature of melting for nano-nonadecane, nano-octadecane, and a balanced mix were measured at 102.6 J/g and 33.6 C, 144.7 J/g and 29.8 C, and 137.4 J/g and 31.8 C, respectively. However, the heat of fusion of the vapor-permeable and water-repellant (VPWR) fabrics treated with the nanoPCMs were only 6.8, 4.0, and 3.6 J/g, respectively, because the weight of fabric was added per unit area. The air permeability of the specimens without nanoPCMs was the lowest; that of the VPWR fabrics with nanoPCMs was relatively higher. The water vapor transmission of the VPWR fabrics with nanoPCMs was higher than the fabric without nanoPCMs, and the water resistance decreased in the same order. Compared to the mechanical properties of the fabric without nanoPCMs, the stiffness and roughness of the fabrics with nanoPCMs were improved, but the resilience and smoothness of the fabrics were slightly decreased. Consequently, the physical and mechanical properties of VPWR fabrics with nanoPCMs were superior to those of the fabric without nanoPCMs.

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