Cables made of phase change material

Abstract

A phase change material (PCM) is useful for thermal management in various applications such as automotive, building, packaging, garments, and footwear, and in devices such as wires and cables. The cable described herein comprises a core and a PCM layer surrounding the core. The PCM layer comprises a PCM composition, which in turn comprises a 1,3-propanediol fatty acid ester. The core consists of a yarn, strand or wire made of a natural or synthetic polymeric material or a metal.

1 . A cable comprising a core and a PCM layer surrounding the core, wherein the PCM layer consists of a PCM composition, and
 a) the PCM composition is biobased; and   b) the core consists of a filament, yarn, strand or wire comprising a polymeric material or a metal.   
     
     
         2 . The cable of  claim 1  wherein the PCM composition is a 1,3-propanediol fatty acid ester. 
     
     
         3 . The cable of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the PCM composition comprises 1,3-propanediol dibehanate or 1,3-propanediol dipalmitate. 
     
     
         4 . The cable of any preceding claim, wherein the filament, yarn, strand or wire comprises polyamide, polyparaphenylene terephtalamide or copper. 
     
     
         5 . The cable of any preceding claim, wherein the amount of PCM is at least 70 weight percent, based on the total weight of the cable. 
     
     
         6 . The cable of any preceding claim, wherein the cable has a diameter of 3 to 6 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The cable of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more layers of a protective polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The cable of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more layers of a protective polymer comprises a blend of ionomer and polyamide. 
     
     
         9 . The cable of  claim 7  or  claim 8 , wherein the one or more layers of a protective polymer have a thickness of 50 to 600 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The use of the cable of any preceding claim in thermal management. 
     
     
         11 . The use of the cable of any preceding claim in the automotive industry. 
     
     
         12 . The use of the cable of any preceding claim in an electrical battery or in a latent heat battery. 
     
     
         13 . A process for making the cable of any of  claims 1  to  9 , said process comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a core consisting of a yarn, strand or wire made of a polymeric material or a metal; and 
 b) extruding a PCM composition comprising 1,3-propanediol fatty acid ester onto the core. 
 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of extruding one or more layers of a protective polymer onto the PCM composition and the core. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the protective polymer comprises a blend of an ionomer and a polyamide.