Polyethylene glycol/algae‐based phase change fibers for thermal management via wet spinning

Abstract The development of smart textiles has placed higher demands on personal thermal management, and phase change energy storage fibers represent an effective approach to achieving this goal. In this study, a simple blend of phase change materials, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium alginate, was prepared using tannic acid (TA) as a physical cross‐linking agent and a coagulation bath composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and calcium chloride solution. High‐PEG‐content phase change fibers (PEG/calcium alginate [CA]/TA/PVA) were fabricated via wet spinning. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results indicated that the latent heat of the phase change fibers (Δ H ) could reach 68.7 J/g. Thermal stability assessments demonstrated that after 50 DSC cycles, the latent heat of the PEG/CA/TA/PVA fibers slightly increased. Moreover, the fibers maintained morphological stability with no liquid leakage after being heated at 70°C for 72 h. Simulated fabric experiments revealed that the temperature rise rate of the PEG‐loaded phase change fibers was significantly slower than that of the unloaded fibers, and the rate of temperature increase slowed within the range of 50–60°C. Therefore, these wet‐spun phase change fibers show promising potential for applications in phase change energy storage and smart textiles. Highlights The enthalpy value of the phase change fiber was 68.7 J/g. An eco‐friendly, solvent‐free, and facile wet phase separation method. The raw materials are all bio‐based or biodegradable.