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Characterization of MgCl₂·6H₂O-Based Eutectic/Expanded Perlite Composite Phase Change Material with Low Thermal
Chao Zhang1, Zeyu Zhang2, Rongda Ye3
1Key Laboratory of Enhanced Heat Transfer and Energy Conservation, the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China. hbjmzc@outlook.com.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 28, 2018
Summary
This study developed a novel composite phase change material (PCM) for building walls. The material effectively stores thermal energy within the human comfort range, offering energy-saving potential.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Building Science
- Thermal Engineering
Background:
- Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are crucial for regulating building temperatures.
- Ideal PCMs require melting points within the human thermal comfort range (20-25°C).
- Salt hydrates offer high latent heat but often suffer from issues like supercooling and leakage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a form-stable composite PCM with a melting point suitable for building thermal regulation.
- To improve the thermal properties and stability of eutectic salt hydrates.
- To assess the potential of the composite PCM for energy saving in buildings.
Main Methods:
- A eutectic mixture of magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl₂·6H₂O) and calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl₂·6H₂O) was prepared.
- Strontium chloride hexahydrate (SrCl₂·6H₂O) was added to suppress supercooling.
- The mixture was impregnated into expanded perlite (EP) to create a form-stable composite PCM.
Main Results:
- The composite PCM exhibited a melting point of 23.9°C, ideal for thermal comfort.
- It demonstrated form-stability up to 50 wt.% loading with a latent heat of 73.55 J/g.
- Expanded perlite significantly reduced thermal conductivity from 0.732 to 0.144 W/(m·K) and prevented phase separation and leakage.
- The material showed excellent thermal stability over multiple heating-cooling cycles.
Conclusions:
- The developed composite PCM, utilizing eutectic salt hydrates and expanded perlite, is a promising material for building energy efficiency.
- Its properties, including a suitable melting point, high latent heat, low thermal conductivity, and enhanced stability, make it ideal for building envelope applications.
- This material has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings by passively regulating indoor temperatures.
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