Fabrication of electrospun nanofibre yarn based on nylon 6/microencapsulated phase change materials

Abstract

Twisted nylon 6 nanofibre yarns containing microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs) were fabricated via electrospinning to prepare thermal regulating nanofibre yarns. Electrospun nanofibre yarns with different contents of MPCMs including 0.375, 0.75, 1.5 and 3 wt% were prepared. The surface morphology, crystallisation and thermal properties of the yarn samples were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. SEM results showed that electrospun composite fibres and yarns had good morphology with smooth surface and the MPCMs were randomly distributed on the composite yarn surface, inside the nanofibres and between the fibres in the yarn structure. Additionally, the SEM results suggested that the average diameters of nylon 6/MPCM nanofibres decreased from 0.23 § 0.03 mm for neat nylon 6 to a minimum of 0.10 § 0.02 mm for composite yarn containing 3 wt% MPCM. However, nylon 6/MPCM nanofibre yarn diameter displayed a complex behaviour; the average diameters of electrospun composite yarns increased upon addition of MPCM and reached a maximum value of 165.1 § 5.11 mm for composite yarn containing 0.75 wt% MPCM, then decreased markedly. These changes in nylon 6/MPCM nanofibres and yarn diameters have been discussed in terms of electrospinning solution properties and twist parameter. The melting enthalpy values of MPCM in the composite nanofibre yarns increased as the content of MPCMs increased up to the highest content and higher than 80% of the heat storage capacity of MPCMs was retained after electrospinning.

Morphological and mechanical properties of drawn poly(l‐lactide) electrospun twisted yarns

“…Comparing to the non‐woven mats, the yarns hold more lateral interaction and friction between nanofibers which assists in improving mechanical properties. It can be expected that nanofiber yarns will find more applications not only in traditional textile, where conventional yarns are being used, but also in new fields such as reinforcement materials and medical textiles, for example, tissue scaffolds, surgery suture, and woven wound dressing .…”

Electrospinning of continuous nanofiber hollow yarns for thermal storage and insulation by a multi-step twisting method

“…Table S4 in the Supplemental Material shows that the resultant HPCMEs/PMIA nanofiber hollow yarns possess better heat storage capacity compared to most of the reported microcapsule yarns and fabrics. 28–36 Shin et al., 29 for example, reported a series of thermal-regulating textiles by using phase change microcapsules (ΔHm = 134.3 kJ·kg –1 ) as their functional ingredient. These fabrics were tested to be 0.91–4.44 kJ·kg –1 in latent heat.…”

“…Somewhat differently, Semnani Rahbar et al. 35 added phase change microcapsules (ΔHm = 164.6 kJ·kg –1 ) to PA6 solution directly, and obtained nanofiber yarns (0.46–4.29 kJ·kg –1 ) for heat storage by electrospinning technology. The yarns’ application prospects in the fields of temperature regulation and heat storage are proposed.…”

“…34 Experimental results showed that the prepared functional fabrics can effectively resist the external thermal shock and improve the wear's thermal comfort level. Somewhat differently, Semnani Rahbar et al 35 added phase change microcapsules (ÁH m ¼ 164.6 kJÁkg -1 ) to PA6 solution directly, and obtained nanofiber yarns (0.46-4.29 kJÁkg -1 ) for heat storage by electrospinning technology. The yarns' application prospects in the fields of temperature regulation and heat storage are proposed.…”

Reversibly thermochromic and high strength core‐shell nanofibers fabricated by melt coaxial electrospinning

“…Thermal energy storage is currently one of the most efficient energy storage methods, shows great promise as a means of environmental protection and energy reduction. Phase change materials (PCMs) can absorb, store, or release a large amount of latent heat at a constant temperature, 4,5 so they play important roles in different application fields, such as, temperature regulation, energy-saving, buildings, and smart fabrics. [6][7][8] PCMs are commonly divided into inorganic and organic compounds based on their chemical constituents, 9,10 which can maintain stable thermal properties after multiple phase change cycles.…”