Preparation and characterization of capric-palmitic-stearic acid ternary eutectic mixture/expanded vermiculite composites as form-stabilized thermal energy storage materials. Issue 2 (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Weiyi; Zhang, Xiaoguang; Huang, Zhaohui; Yin, Zhaoyu; Wen, Ruilong; Huang, Yaoting; Wu, Xiaowen; Min, Xin
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials science & technology. Volume 34:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 379
• Page End: 386
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Capric–palmitic–stearic acid -- Expanded vermiculite -- Form-stable composite phase-change material (PCM); Metals -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials science; Metals; Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2017.06.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1005-0302

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, a composite of form-stable phase change materials (FSPCMs) were prepared by the incorporation of a eutectic mixture of capric–palmitic–stearic acid (CA–PA–SA) into expanded vermiculite (EV) via vacuum impregnation. In the composites, CA–PA–SA was utilized as a thermal energy storage material, and EV served as the supporting material. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results demonstrated that CA–PA–SA and EV in the composites only undergo physical combination, not a chemical reaction. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that CA–PA–SA is sufficiently absorbed in the expanded vermiculite porous network. According to differential scanning calorimetry results, the 70 wt% CA–PA–SA/EV sample melts at 19.3 °C with a latent heat of 117.6 J/g and solidifies at 17.1 °C with a latent heat of 118.3 J/g. Thermal cycling measurements indicated that FSPCMs exhibit adequate stability even after being subjected to 200 melting–freezing cycles. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the composites increased by approximately 49.58% with the addition of 5 wt% of Cu powder. Hence, CA–PA–SA/EV FSPCMs are effective latent heat thermal energy storage building materials.