Article and method for temperature regulation using a thermosensitive reactive hydrogel material

A method for controlling the flow of a fluid in an open cell foam substrate to regulate the temperature of the fluid approximately at a predetermined temperature, the method comprising the steps of;

• providing a layer of the open cell foam substrate containing gel particles embedded therein, the gel particles having a gel volume phase transition critical temperature (VPTCT) at about the predetermined temperature;
• and
• permitting the fluid to flow through the open cell foam substrate to change the temperature of the fluid,
• wherein the gel particles in the open cell foam substrate absorb the fluid and expand in volume when the temperature of the fluid is below the gel volume phase transition critical temperature, and the gel particles expel the fluid and contract in volume when the temperature of the fluid is above the gel volume phase transition critical temperature.

A method for controlling the flow of a fluid in an open cell foam substrate to regulate the temperature of the fluid approximately at a predetermined temperature, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a layer of the open cell foam substrate containing gel particles embedded therein, the gel particles having a gel volume phase transition critical temperature (VPTCT) at about the predetermined temperature;
• and
• permitting the fluid to flow through the open cell foam substrate to change the temperature of the fluid,
• wherein the gel particles undergo a volume change response by which the gel particles absorb the fluid and expand in volume when the temperature of the fluid is below the gel volume phase transition critical temperature, and the gel particles expel the fluid and contract in volume when the temperature of the fluid is above the gel volume phase transition critical temperature.