Organic phase change materials and their textile applications: An overview

► PCMs offer tremendous potential to fulfill growing energy needs. ► Paraffin waxes, PEGs, fatty acids, polyalcohols, polyethylenes are attractive PCMs. ► Using organic PCMs in industrial applications is expected to grow at 32%/yr. ► Microencapsulated PCMs are widely used to develop thermally enhanced textiles. ► PCM integrated textiles are promising in apparel, technical textile applications.