An overview of phase change materials, their production, and applications in textiles

• The principles of phase change materials were discussed. • Properties of phase change materials were highlighted. • A comprehensive overview of PCM types was presented. • Recent advancements in PCM-integrated textile applications were analyzed. A phase change material (PCM) is a substance that releases/absorbs enough energy to produce useful heat/cooling upon phase transition. The transition will take place between one of the initial two fundamental states of matter, solid and liquid. It might also be a transition between non-classical states like crystal structure. The integration of PCM in textiles by coating or encapsulation to create thermo-regulated smart textiles has piqued the researcher's interest recently. As a result, an attempt has been made to examine the principles of PCM and their applications for smart temperature-controlled textiles. The many forms of phase transition materials are discussed. This is followed by a summary of the integration of PCM into the textile structure. This review article discusses the concept of thermal comfort, cold-weather clothing, phase change materials, and garment comfort. Additionally, applications of PCM in the textile are discussed. The following are some examples of recent PCM-incorporated textile applications. Finally, this review article discusses the market for PCM in the textiles industry as well as some difficulties.