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Characteristic and Properties of Ternary Shape-Stabilized Composite Phase Change Materials Based on Expanded Graphite
Hua Fei1, Jiahong Zhou1, Qian He1
1Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Geotechnical Engineering and Hazards Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China.
New phase change materials incorporating myristic acid-palmitic acid-tetradecanol/expanded graphite (MA-PA-TD/EG) and myristic acid-stearic acid-lauric acid/expanded graphite (MA-SA-LA/EG) demonstrate enhanced thermal conductivity and stability. These advanced materials are suitable for practical applications in buildings due to their improved heat storage capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Sustainable Energy
Background:
- Phase change materials (PCMs) are crucial for thermal energy storage.
- Incorporating PCMs into porous substrates like expanded graphite (EG) can improve their thermal properties.
- Developing efficient and stable PCMs is essential for applications in buildings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel composite phase change materials (PCMs) based on fatty acids and tetradecanol embedded in expanded graphite (EG).
- To evaluate the thermal properties, stability, and heat transfer enhancement of the developed MA-PA-TD/EG and MA-SA-LA/EG composites.
- To assess the suitability of these novel PCMs for practical applications in building thermal management.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of myristic acid-palmitic acid-tetradecanol/expanded graphite (MA-PA-TD/EG) and myristic acid-stearic acid-lauric acid/expanded graphite (MA-SA-LA/EG) composites at an optimal mass ratio of 8:1.
- Characterization using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
- Evaluation of phase transition temperatures, thermal stability, and solid-liquid phase change rate.
Main Results:
- MA-PA-TD and MA-SA-LA were successfully and evenly distributed within the expanded graphite matrix via capillary forces.
- The composite PCMs exhibited good thermal stability and reversible phase transition temperatures around 34°C (MA-PA-TD/EG) and 30°C (MA-SA-LA/EG) after multiple cycles.
- Significant enhancement in solid-liquid phase change rate was observed: 67% for MA-PA-TD/EG and 63% for MA-SA-LA/EG compared to their un-encapsulated counterparts.
- Thermogravimetric experiments confirmed good thermal stability and heat storage capacity.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized MA-PA-TD/EG and MA-SA-LA/EG composites demonstrate excellent thermal properties and stability.
- The enhanced thermal conductivity and heat storage capacity make these materials highly promising for passive thermal regulation in buildings.
- These novel expanded graphite-encapsulated fatty acid/alcohol PCMs offer a viable solution for improving building energy efficiency.
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