REVERSIBLE WATER-ABSORBING CONSTRUCTS COMPRISING PHASE-CHANGE POLYMER FILAMENTS

Water removal from humidified air and other water-laden gases may be complicated due to the need for large and expensive capital equipment or use of powder-form desiccants that may lead to pressure drops, poor throughput and energy-intensive recovery of water. Reversible water-absorbing constructs may alleviate these difficulties and comprise: a phase change polymer exhibiting a reversible hydrophilic-hydrophobic phase transition, and at least one additional material in contact with the phase change polymer, such as a water-sorptive material. The phase change polymer and the at least one additional material are formed as a plurality of filaments. Filaments formed from the phase change polymer may be generated through an electrospinning process, which may be arranged in various higher level constructs, such as in fibers, fabrics and non-woven filament mats capable of absorbing water from humidified air or other water-laden gases.