Thermal and breathability management of microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) incorporated jute fabric

Abstract

Jute bags are widely used to carry food grains and other materials that may be prone to quality deterioration due to thermal fluctuation. Thermal and moisture properties play a significant role in the packaging materials in the form of a container. This study deals with the effect of microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) with hydrophobic binder on thermal and moisture management properties of jute fabric. Jute fabric was treated with MPCM by pad-dry-cure method. The treated sample was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning colorimeter (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM), moisture management tester (MMT), and air permeability tester. The results revealed that MPCM treated jute fabric shows greater thermal stability and heat absorption ability of 10.58 J/g while changing from solid to liquid phase. The SEM image ensures even distribution of MPCMs on fabric surface and surface roughness was also observed using image processing software. The air permeability was found to decrease whereas the water repellency enhanced in the developed sample.