Response surface methodology for optimizing treatment condition of military combat uniform fabrics with phase change microcapsules to minimize fabric frictional sound and maximize the heat property

Response surface methodology (RSM) is a collection of statistical and mathematical techniques, used for modeling and optimization. This study aimed to suggest the optimum treatment condition for minimizing fabric frictional sound and maximizing heat storage and release properties of combat uniform fabric treated with phase change materials (PCMs). Nine treatment conditions were determined by central composite design (CCD) of RSM. The independent variables were the concentration of PCMs (X₁: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 %) and curing temperature (X₂: 95, 100, 105, 110, 115 °C). The degree of increase in sound pressure level (SPL) of the treated specimen ranged from 1.84 to 8.971 %, demonstrating that the treatment caused a fabric frictional sound to be louder. The SPL increased significantly as concentration increased by 18 % and there was no significant effect of curing temperature on SPL. According to the analysis on the relationship between tensile properties and SPL, toughness (R²=.706) was closely related to SPL, whereas tensile strength and elongation at break were not. The optimum treatment condition for minimizing fabric frictional sound and maximizing the heat storage and heat release properties was suggested. The regression models about SPL, heat of fusion (ΔH_f) and heat of crystallization (ΔH_c) were investigated with respect to two independent variables of treatment conditions, concentration and curing temperature. The optimum treatment condition in the model was concentration of 15.9 % and the curing temperature of 113.6 °C. The predicted SPL and ΔH_f were 63.21 dB (R²=0.99) and 4.70 J/g (R²=0.95) respectively.