Behavior in Finishing of PCM Fibers in Blends with Natural, Man-Made or Synthetic Fibers

Phase Change Material (PCM) is a substance with a high heat of fusion which melts and solidifies at a certain temperature, being capable of storing and releasing large amounts of thermal energy. This behaviour of PCM is the basis for its temperature regulating effect, as a component of textile functionalized fibres and helps the body to stay within the comfortable temperature range. For the finishing of textiles containing PCM fibers, a great importance should be given to each technologic operation, so that the PCMs from the fiber's structure would not be eliminated by preliminary treatments, dyeing or by the final finishing applied procedures. In this study, laboratory pre-treatment and dyeing experiments were made, on knitted fabrics with content of PCM fibers in blends with natural, man-made or synthetic fibers, to enable the overall finishing processes influence on the main physical-mechanical characteristics, dyeability and color fastness properties. Various methods of preliminary treatment and dyeing were applied, specific to each fiber composition of yarns, by using the optimum results obtained in previous performed studies. The behavior during finishing of knitted fabrics varies, depending on the fiber components blended with PCM fibers, without affecting the physical-mechanical characteristics of knitted fabrics. As regards the dyeing process, all samples are uniformly dyed, with color differences depending on the applied finishing process. Dyeing fastness is very good in the case of blends with man-made cellulosic fibers and good in the case of blends with cotton or with synthetic fibers.