MPCM market tops $45 million

A study by consultants Frost & Sullivan of Mountain View, Calif., found the market for micro-encapsulated phase-change materials (MPCMs) earned $45.1 million in 2013 and estimates the market will reach $99 million in 2018. The study covers MPCMs incorporated in textile and mattress components such as fibers, yarns, fabrics, foams and gels, reporting that the trend toward smart textiles and the need for comfortable temperature regulation in fabrics has driven the use of MPCMs in clothes and mattresses. New PCM microcapsules that are highly flame-resistant or non-flammable are being researched and developed,b ut the report cautions that the pace of market growth will primarily depend on the suitability of these technologies for commercialization.