Thermal performance of electrospun core-shell phase change fibrous layers at simulated body conditions

Phase change fibrous layers, produced by coaxial electrospinning, are great candidates to be used in the thermal energy storage systems. In the present work, thermoregulating properties of core-shell fibrous layers containing phase change materials were studied under simulated body conditions. Two types of alkane containing hexadecane and octadecane, as the PCM core, were compared. Morphological observations were carried out by the longitudinal and cross-sectional FESEM images. Thermal performance of samples was investigated using DSC analysis and dynamic heat evaluation system in accordance with the body conditions. The results showed that types of PCM and number of layers had significantly effect on the thermoregulating properties. In addition, three indices, including the mean and maximum temperature difference, the mean gradient temperature (G_T), and the cooling rate, were derived from the dynamic test results. The mean temperature difference showed no significant differences between the samples containing PCMs, while the G_T and the cooling rate showed longer thermal response times in the samples containing hexadecane in comparison with the other samples. As a result, the PCM with a phase change temperature which is close to ambient temperature is more appropriate choice to achieve a high thermal performance during sudden changes at the ambient temperature.