Abstract: Temperature indication labels, including low temperature ascending indication labels, that provide a visible color change when a temperature rises above a target temperature, in some applications a target temperature below room temperature. For low temperature ascending indication labels, the indicator needs activated by cooling or freezing. A transparent polymer layer is present over a deposition of a temperature indication composition in a suitable thickness to protect (insulate) the same from environmental interference, such that the temperature indication composition better reflects the temperature of the thermal mass to which it is adhered and intended to monitor. One example application a low temperature ascending indication label is a blood bag filled with blood, which is stored at 6° C. and transported at 10° C. Another is refrigerated storage of medical items and food to be stored in a range of 2° C. to 8° C.

Abstract: Methods of making a thermoset thermal energy gels, such as one having a radiation cured polymeric network, are disclosed. The methods include providing a hydrophobic PCM in its liquid state, adding a polybutadiene urethane acrylate oligomer and a mono-functional or di-functional crosslinker soluble in the hydrophobic PCM to the hydrophobic PCM while maintaining the liquid state of the hydrophobic phase change material to form a liquid homogenous mixture, then adding a photoinitiator, which is soluble in the hydrophobic PCM, with mixing to form a final mixture. Next, curing the final mixture occurs by exposure to radiation to form the thermoset thermal energy gel.

Abstract: Radiation curable phase change solutions (PCM) and said solutions as a thermoset thermal energy gels (a radiation cured polymeric network) has a hydrophobic PCM, a polybutadiene urethane acrylate oligomer soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 7% wt/wt to 25% wt/wt of the gel, a photoinitiator soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 0.01% wt/wt to 0.5% wt/wt of the gel, a mono-functional or di-functional crosslinker soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 0% wt/wt to 10% wt/wt of the gel, and a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer as a secondary resin as 0% to 20% wt/wt of the gel and optionally a tertiary resin as 0% to 5% wt/wt of the gel, wherein the tertiary resin is a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer that is different than the secondary resin. The solution or gel is sealed in a container, e.g., a sachet, to form a cold pack.

Abstract: Non-flammable structures are disclosed that have a substrate and a layer applied to the substrate that includes a phase change material that is flammable. The layer includes a binder having mixed therein about 50% to about 90% by weight of a microencapsulated phase change material and about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of an inorganic flame retardant. The inorganic flame retardant has a volume that increases upon exposure to heat or a flame. The binder is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a styrene acrylic copolymer, a styrene butadiene copolymer, acrylic and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Solid gel beads formed from a gel product of a 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkane phase change material, 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkene phase change material, or a combination thereof and a styrene-based polymer are homogeneous, has an uneven exterior surface, and a major axis length in a range of 1000 ?m to 100 mm. Methods for making the solid gel bead include providing water having a preselected temperature based on a linear relationship to the melting point of a phase change material composition, mixing the phase change material composition with the styrene-based polymer at or below the preselected temperature with stirring to form a pulp, and mixing the pulp into the water with turbulent mixing while maintaining the temperature of the mixture at the preselected temperature.

Abstract: Non-flammable structures are disclosed that have a substrate and a layer applied to the substrate that includes a phase change material that is flammable. The layer includes a binder having mixed therein about 50% to about 90% by weight of a microencapsulated phase change material and about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of an inorganic flame retardant. The inorganic flame retardant has a volume that increases upon exposure to heat or a flame. The binder is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a styrene acrylic copolymer, a styrene butadiene copolymer, acrylic and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Radiation curable phase change solutions (PCM) and said solutions as a thermoset thermal energy gels (a radiation cured polymeric network) has a hydrophobic PCM, a polybutadiene urethane acrylate oligomer soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 7% wt/wt to 25% wt/wt of the gel, a photoinitiator soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 0.01% wt/wt to 0.5% wt/wt of the gel, a mono-functional or di-functional crosslinker soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 0% wt/wt to 10% wt/wt of the gel, and a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer as a secondary resin as 0% to 20% wt/wt of the gel and optionally a tertiary resin as 0% to 5% wt/wt of the gel, wherein the tertiary resin is a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer that is different than the secondary resin. The solution or gel is sealed in a container, e.g., a sachet, to form a cold pack.

Abstract: Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a pre-formed capsule having a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.

Abstract: Microcapsules or macrocapsules have a core composition that includes a phase change material (PCM) encapsulated within a polymer wall with an outer shell having a siloxane tethered to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The siloxane may form a crystalline or a sol-gel outer shell. Methods of making such capsules and textile fabrics and clothing incorporating such capsules include treating pre-formed capsules with a surfactant solution followed by treating with a compound containing a siloxane functional group. The surfactant connects or tethers the siloxane to the exterior surface of the polymer wall and the siloxane forms an outer shell of the capsules.

Abstract: Solid gel beads formed from a gel product of a 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkane phase change material, 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkene phase change material, or a combination thereof and a styrene-based polymer are homogeneous, has an uneven exterior surface, and a major axis length in a range of 1000 ?m to 100 mm. Methods for making the solid gel bead include providing water having a preselected temperature based on a linear relationship to the melting point of a phase change material composition, mixing the phase change material composition with the styrene-based polymer at or below the preselected temperature with stirring to form a pulp, and mixing the pulp into the water with turbulent mixing while maintaining the temperature of the mixture at the preselected temperature.

Abstract: Microcapsules or macrocapsules have a core composition that includes a phase changing material (PCM) encapsulated within a polymer wall with an outer shell having a siloxane tethered to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The siloxane may form a crystalline or a sol-gel outer shell. Methods of making such capsules and textile fabrics and clothing incorporating such capsules include treating pre-formed capsules with a surfactant solution followed by treating with a compound containing a siloxane functional group. The surfactant connects or tethers the siloxane to the exterior surface of the polymer wall and the siloxane forms an outer shell of the capsules.

Abstract: Thermal cooling gel and cold packs enclosing such thermal cooling gel have an aqueous gel of 1% to 10% wt/wt of cellulose, 0.5 g/L to 2 g/L of an ice nucleating protein, and a biocide. The enthalpy of the thermal cooling gel is in a range of 250 J/g to 330 J/g.

Abstract: Rupturable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a carboxylic acid, encapsulated within a phenolic resin-containing polymer wall that ruptures upon exposure to alkaline conditions over a period of time, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a mineral containing a metal that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the carboxylic acid and the mineral containing the metal chemically react with one another to form a reaction product that seals a rupture in the capsule and/or seals a feature of a surface upon which the capsules are disposed.

Abstract: Microcapsules are disclosed that have a core composition encapsulated within a polymer wall, and an inorganic shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The inorganic shell has a cation attracted to the surfactant and an anion or anion equivalent chemically bonded to the cation to form the shell or has the metal portion of a metal-containing compound attracted to the surfactant to form the shell. The shell may comprise a Ca, Mg, or Ag metal compound. The shell may be a graphene oxide-metal compound.

Abstract: Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a pre-formed capsule having a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.

Abstract: A microcapsule or microcapsule having a polymer wall comprising a melamine formaldehyde reacted with a crosslinking agent to form a unit cell according to a general formula (II) and/or the polymer wall has a FT-IR Spectrum as shown in FIG. 4. The crosslinking agent is a mixture of a reaction product of a cyclic urea (U) and a multifunctional aldehyde (A), and at least one crosslinker selected from the following group: a reaction products of (i) an aminotriazine and at least one aldehyde selected from the group consisting of aliphatic monoaldehydes and multifunctional aliphatic aldehydes, (ii) urea and/or cyclic ureas and formaldehyde, or (iii) phenols and aliphatic monoaldehydes, or from alkoxycarbonylaminotriazines, or multifunctional isocyanates, epoxides, aziridines, and carbodiimides.

Abstract: Methods for producing a dimensionally stable phase change material (PCM), and dimensionally stable PCMs are disclosed. The methods include providing a porous base material, mixing a phase change material having a polar functional group with a substance that increases the polar attraction of the phase change material for the porous base material to form a mixture thereof; and, thereafter, mixing the mixture with the porous base material until a selected saturation of phase change material in the porous base material is reached. The methods may include filtering the porous base material after the selected saturation is reached to form a cake of dimensionally stable PCM and, thereafter, reducing the size of the dimensionally stable PCM to an average mean particle size of about 10 to about 50 ?m, or more preferably 20 to 30 ?m.

Abstract: Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.

Abstract: Rupturable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a carboxylic acid, encapsulated within a phenolic resin-containing polymer wall that ruptures upon exposure to alkaline conditions over a period of time, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a mineral containing a metal that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the carboxylic acid and the mineral containing the metal chemically react with one another to form a reaction product that seals a rupture in the capsule and/or seals a feature of a surface upon which the capsules are disposed.

Abstract: Methods for producing a dimensionally stable phase change material (PCM), and dimensionally stable PCMs are disclosed. The methods include providing a porous base material, mixing a phase change material having a polar functional group with a substance that increases the polar attraction of the phase change material for the porous base material to form a mixture thereof; and, thereafter, mixing the mixture with the porous base material until a selected saturation of phase change material in the porous base material is reached. The methods may include filtering the porous base material after the selected saturation is reached to form a cake of dimensionally stable PCM and, thereafter, reducing the size of the dimensionally stable PCM to an average mean particle size of about 10 to about 50 ?m, or more preferably 20 to 30 ?m.