Thermal Performance Study of Composite Phase Change Material with Polyacrylicand Conformal Coating

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Phase change materials (PCMs) are crucial for thermal energy storage.
• Fatty acids, like myristic acid (MA), are effective PCMs but prone to leakage.
• Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) serves as a supporting matrix for MA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a leakage-free composite PCM using MA and PMMA.
• To evaluate the efficacy of polyacrylic and conformal coatings in preventing MA leakage.
• To assess the impact of coatings on the thermal properties and reliability of the composite PCM.

Main Methods:

• Composite PCMs were prepared by blending MA and PMMA.
• Polyacrylic and conformal coatings were applied to the composite PCMs.
• Leakage tests, FTIR, DSC, and TGA analyses were conducted.
• Thermal cycling was performed to evaluate long-term reliability.

Main Results:

• Coated PCMs exhibited no MA leakage, unlike uncoated samples.
• FTIR confirmed chemical compatibility between PCMs and coatings.
• Coatings minimally affected melting/freezing points but enhanced thermal stability.
• PCMs showed excellent reliability after 1000 thermal cycles with negligible latent heat reduction.

Conclusions:

• Polyacrylic and conformal coatings effectively prevent leakage in MA/PMMA composite PCMs.
• The proposed coatings maintain good thermal properties and enhance stability.
• These coated PCMs are suitable for reliable thermal energy storage applications.