Ultraflexible, cost-effective and scalable polymer-based phase change composites via chemical cross-linking for wearable thermal management

Yaoge Jing, Zhengchuang Zhao, Xiaoling Cao, Qinrong Sun, Yanping Yuan () and Tingxian Li ()
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Yaoge Jing: Southwest Jiaotong University
Zhengchuang Zhao: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Xiaoling Cao: Southwest Jiaotong University
Qinrong Sun: ChongQing University of Science and Technology
Yanping Yuan: Southwest Jiaotong University
Tingxian Li: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Phase change materials (PCMs) offer great potential for realizing zero-energy thermal management due to superior thermal storage and stable phase-change temperatures. However, liquid leakage and solid rigidity of PCMs are long-standing challenges for PCM-based wearable thermal regulation. Here, we report a facile and cost-effective chemical cross-linking strategy to develop ultraflexible polymer-based phase change composites with a dual 3D crosslinked network of olefin block copolymers (OBC) and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) in paraffin wax (PW). The C-C bond-enhanced OBC-SEBS networks synergistically improve the mechanical, thermal, and leakage-proof properties of PW@OBC-SEBS. Notably, the proposed peroxide-initiated chemical cross-linking method overcomes the limitations of conventional physical blending methods and thus can be applicable across diverse polymer matrices. We further demonstrate a portable and flexible PW@OBC-SEBS module that maintains a comfortable temperature range of 39–42 °C for personal thermotherapy. Our work provides a promising route to fabricate scalable polymer-based phase change composite for wearable thermal management.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43772-4

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