| abstract |
The present invention describes multicomponent fibers having improved reversible thermal properties and methods of making the same. In a specific embodiment, the multicomponent fiber system comprises a fibrous body formed from a set of elongate members, and at least one of the set of elongate members comprises a temperature regulating material having a latent heat of at least 40 Joules per gram and a transition The temperature is in the range of 22 ° C to 40 ° C. The temperature regulating material provides thermal conditioning based on at least one of absorption and release of latent heat at the transition temperature. The multicomponent fiber can be formed via a melt spinning process or a solution spinning process and can be used or incorporated into various products in which thermal conditioning properties are desired. For example, such multi-component fibers can be used in textiles, clothing, footwear, medical products, containers and packaging materials, construction materials, appliances, and other products. |