Chapter 4
Results and Discussion
The surface characteristics of all the materials used in the experiments were obtained
using scanning electron microscopy (SEM-Philips XL 30). Differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC) was used for the phase change materials (PCM) to obtain the
latent heat of fusion and the melting point of the individual paraffinic PCM. The
cooling achieved by the application of various polymeric water-absorbent textile
(PWAT) materials and paraffinic PCM is discussed. In addition, mathematical equations were obtained in the case of PWAT material for the drop in temperatures and
heat absorption in relation to speed utilising regression analysis. Also, a mathematical equation was obtained in the case of PCM materials for the heat absorption by
utilising the DSC software.
4.1 SEM Images of the Samples
4.1.1 Polymeric Water-Absorbent Textile Materials
The cross section and the surface morphology as examined by utilising the SEM of
the three-layer PWAT material are shown in Figs. 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4.
Figure 4.1 shows the cross section of the PWAT material as shown by the SEM.
The PWAT material consists of the breathable outer shell (a); the intermediate layer
of super-absorbent non-woven batting (b), consisting of hydrophilic fibres (fibres that
attract water) and hydrophobic fibres (fibres that reject water) woven into a fibrous
batting core; and the bottom layer of fabric (c), consisting of thermal conductive
lining (1) on one side of it and a high moisture vapour transmission lining (2) on the
other side.
The hydrophilic fibres of the PWAT material become charged with moisture when
water is added and the hydrophobic fibres evenly distribute and surround the charged
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. Kanesalingam and R. Nayak, Sustainable Phase Change and Polymeric Water
Absorbent Materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5750-7_4
81
Results and Discussion
The surface characteristics of all the materials used in the experiments were obtained
using scanning electron microscopy (SEM-Philips XL 30). Differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC) was used for the phase change materials (PCM) to obtain the
latent heat of fusion and the melting point of the individual paraffinic PCM. The
cooling achieved by the application of various polymeric water-absorbent textile
(PWAT) materials and paraffinic PCM is discussed. In addition, mathematical equations were obtained in the case of PWAT material for the drop in temperatures and
heat absorption in relation to speed utilising regression analysis. Also, a mathematical equation was obtained in the case of PCM materials for the heat absorption by
utilising the DSC software.
4.1 SEM Images of the Samples
4.1.1 Polymeric Water-Absorbent Textile Materials
The cross section and the surface morphology as examined by utilising the SEM of
the three-layer PWAT material are shown in Figs. 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4.
Figure 4.1 shows the cross section of the PWAT material as shown by the SEM.
The PWAT material consists of the breathable outer shell (a); the intermediate layer
of super-absorbent non-woven batting (b), consisting of hydrophilic fibres (fibres that
attract water) and hydrophobic fibres (fibres that reject water) woven into a fibrous
batting core; and the bottom layer of fabric (c), consisting of thermal conductive
lining (1) on one side of it and a high moisture vapour transmission lining (2) on the
other side.
The hydrophilic fibres of the PWAT material become charged with moisture when
water is added and the hydrophobic fibres evenly distribute and surround the charged
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. Kanesalingam and R. Nayak, Sustainable Phase Change and Polymeric Water
Absorbent Materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5750-7_4
81