Application of phase change materials in textiles and apparel

Recent innovative developments in technologies have opened the scope for myriad of opportunities in terms of functional properties in our day-to-day textiles and apparels. Thermoregulation is one of these aspects where phase change materials (PCMs) can be incorporated to provide thermal comfort. This paper highlights the types of PCM materials as thermal energy storage and their properties and benefits that can be utilised in textiles and apparel. Microencapsulation is one of the accepted processes that are used to incorporate PCMs onto the textile substrates. PCMs can be tailored to meet the end usage of the textiles and apparel in terms of thermoregulation which leads to human comfort and well-being.