Smart Cooling for the 21st Century              

Delta Thermal Apparel        

History

Delta Thermal Apparel, Inc. (DTA) was formed in 2001 as a spin-off of Triangle Research and Development Corporation (TRDC), who owns the patents and conducted the research to develop both MicroPCM and MacroPCM Apparel.

TRDC has won 28 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards from NASA, USAF, NAVY, USMC, SDIO, SOCOM, NSF, HHS and USDA from 1984 to 2002 to investigate and develop different applications for microencapsulated and macroencapsulated phase change materials.

The basic and applied research needed to develop the microencapsulated and macroencapsulated phase change materials and the applications was conducted at Triangle Research and Development Corporation (TRDC) in Raleigh, NC from 1984-2000  Highlights of the various SBIR programs and applications that resulted from this research include:

• Non-toxic microPCM particles for use in circulating aqueous coolants for manned spacecraft, automobiles and spacesuits. Enhancement of the coolant’s effective thermal capacitance ranged from 2-10X or 100% to 1,000%.  Processes were also developed for microencapsulation of paraffins, along with supporting components and systems.  Sponsored by NASA and Chrysler.

• Non-Toxic, microPCM non-aqueous coolants for use in power electronics thermal management systems as well as PCM Thermal Capacitors, a Quick-Disconnect Thermal Connector, microPCM Powders for Pourable Heat Sinks, Moldable Composites, Thin, Flexible Heat Shields, and Diamond/microPCM coatings for Power Electronics Heat Spreaders.  Enhancement in the coolant effective thermal capacitance was increased to 10-40X or 1,000 to 4,000%.  MicroPCM additives typically enhanced the thermal capacitance of the materials by 10X or 1,000%.  In addition, the microPCM particles were shown to significantly enhance the heat transfer coefficient at the boundary of the heat exchanger.  Sponsored by USAF, NAVY, Cray and Lockheed.

• MicroPCM particles for spinning into or coating onto textile fibers to enhance their thermal capacitance by as much as 10X or 1,000%, and provide superior transient thermal storage as well as thin thermal barriers.  Sponsored by NASA, USAF, NAVY, and NSF.  Licensed to Outlast Technologies in 1991.

• MicroPCM particles embedded within foam matrices to enhance thermal storage and provide new insulation and apparel.  Licensed to Delta Thermal Systems in 1994, and sublicensed to Frisby Technologies from 1995 to March 2002.

• MicroPCM particles for higher temperatures, including polymers, melt-spun textile fibers, eutectic alloys and metals encapsulated in other metals.  Sponsored by SDIO and NSF.

•  MicroPCM particles for use in machine coolants for use with lathes, milling and grinding operations.  Sponsored by NSF and General Motors.

• MicroPCM particles for use in paints and coatings to provide transient thermal protection, freeze/frost protection as well as infrared (IR) camouflage.  Sponsored by USAF and Delta Thermal Systems.

• MicroPCM particles for use in agricultural coatings for freeze/frost protection as well as enhancement of mycoherbicides.  Sponsored by NSF, USDA and Delta Thermal Systems.

• MicroPCM materials to meet advanced thermal management requirements for high performance aircraft. Sponsored by USAF, Lockheed and McDonnell-Douglas.

• MicroPCM particles embedded within foam insulation for lightweight coolers and transport bags.  Sponsored by USMC, NAVY and Delta Thermal Systems.

• MacroPCM particles for use in microclimate cooling apparel for use with NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) Protective Clothing.  Sponsored by USMC and NAVY.

• MacroPCM particles for use in microclimate cooling apparel for use by costumed characters in entertainment industry.  Sponsored by a major theme park in Florida.

Fourteen comprehensive patents have been awarded to TRDC for its microPCM and macroPCM technologies and materials.  TRDC’s microPCM and macroPCM work was recognized by NASA with two Technology Utilization Awards, by the USAF as one of its 42 most noteworthy SBIR programs, by the NAVY as its top 28 SBIR Successes, and by the Small Business Administration (SBA) with the 2000 Tibbets Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

MacroPCM or COOLBEAD Apparel has resulted from multiple SBIR contracts from the USMC and NAVY for the development of PECS (Personal Environmental Cooling System) body cooling apparel specifically for use beneath NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Protective Clothing. These include both LEVEL A HAZMAT and LEVEL IV MOPP protective clothing commonly worn by the US Marines in CBIRF (Chemical Biological Incident Response Force) at Indian Head, MD.  In addition, items of macroPCM COOLTECH™ cooling apparel have been tested and selected for use by two major theme parks in Florida.

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