
PCM stands for Phase Change Material, which is a pretty unhelpful term in that it does not tell you what the material is, but it does tell you what the material does, it changes. Since there are a variety of materials that can act as PCMs, right now we start with what it stands for and what a PCM does. A Google search will give you the below.
A "phase change material" (PCM) is a substance that can absorb or release a large amount of heat energy during a phase transition, like changing from a solid to a liquid state, while maintaining a relatively constant temperature within a specific range, essentially acting as a thermal energy storage mechanism; it essentially stores heat by changing its physical state, not just by increasing temperature.
Key points about phase change materials:
Function: They absorb heat when transitioning from solid to liquid and release heat when transitioning back to solid.
Applications: Used in various applications like temperature regulation in buildings, thermal protection in electronics, cooling garments, and energy storage systems.
Examples: Common PCMs include paraffin wax, salt hydrates, and fatty acids.

So, if you are using a PCM in something like a cooling vest, these phase change materials cool the user by absorbing heat away from the body and storing it. This helps to keep a constant temperature around the body and does not rely on airflow to keep the user cool. This last point is crucial to remember, “and does not rely on airflow to keep the user cool.” This characteristic means that a PCM Cooling vest can be used in hazmat suits, heavy PPE and enclosed areas or high humidity areas, where evaporative cooling does not work. Hence, no personal cooling product line is complete without a PCM cooling vest solution.
There are several different types of materials that can be used as a PCM. When using PCMs for making our #KewlFabric #CoolingVests we utilize organic PCMs based on paraffin oil. These types of PCMs give you the best options for temperature ranges, cost and availability, but we also offer other types of organic PCMs and inorganic PCMs, if required by the customer. These options provide our customers with a full range of solutions depending on temperature, duration and weight considerations etc.
We get into all of the PCM options and key variables to consider when selecting your PCM solution next week.
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