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Wax Confinement with Carbon Nanotubes for Phase Changing Epoxy Blends
Giulia Fredi1, Andrea Dorigato2,3, Luca Fambri4,5
1Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy. giulia.fredi@unitn.it.
Polymers
|April 11, 2019
Summary
Shape-stabilized paraffin wax with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enhances epoxy blends for thermal energy storage. CNTs prevent paraffin leakage, preserving energy storage capacity and enabling multifunctional structural composites.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing advanced materials for thermal energy storage is crucial.
- Epoxy resins are versatile structural materials.
- Incorporating phase change materials into polymers offers potential for multifunctional composites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create novel epoxy blends with enhanced thermal energy storage capabilities.
- To investigate the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the stability and performance of paraffin wax in epoxy matrices.
- To evaluate the thermomechanical properties of the developed blends.
Main Methods:
- Paraffin wax was shape-stabilized using 10 wt % carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
- CNTs/paraffin wax was dispersed in epoxy resin at various concentrations.
- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) were employed.
- Flexural properties were measured to assess mechanical performance.
Main Results:
- CNTs improved the thermal stability of paraffin wax.
- Paraffin retained its melt-crystallization ability with enthalpy proportional to its fraction, especially with CNTs.
- Epoxy/wax blends without CNTs showed significant enthalpy loss due to paraffin exudation.
- Flexural modulus and strength decreased with increasing wax/CNT content, while strain at break showed positive deviation from the rule of mixtures.
Conclusions:
- Shape-stabilized paraffin wax with CNTs effectively enhances thermal energy storage in epoxy blends.
- CNTs are critical for preventing paraffin exudation and maintaining energy storage capacity.
- The developed epoxy blends exhibit potential as multifunctional structural composites with integrated thermal energy storage.
Keywords:
carbon nanotubesepoxy resinmultifunctional compositesphase change materialsthermal energy storageMore Related Videos
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