Rheological Behaviour of Cementitious Materials Incorporating Solid-Solid Phase Change Materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Sustainable Construction

Background:

• Indoor thermal regulation is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Phase Change Materials (PCMs), particularly solid-solid PCMs (s/s PCMs), offer high latent heat for thermal energy storage.
• Integrating s/s PCMs into building materials can significantly reduce energy consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the rheological behavior of cementitious suspensions containing s/s PCMs.
• To assess the impact of s/s PCMs on the workability of construction materials.
• To develop predictive models for the flow behavior of these composite materials.

Main Methods:

• Rheological measurements were performed on composite suspensions of cement/mortar and s/s PCMs.
• The Herschel-Bulkley model was employed to analyze the flow data.
• An existing viscosity model was adapted for predicting consistency.

Main Results:

• The Herschel-Bulkley model with a constant flow exponent provided a reliable fit for the rheological data.
• s/s PCMs were found to influence the consistency of the suspensions.
• The yield strength was only slightly affected by the inclusion of s/s PCMs.

Conclusions:

• Rheological properties of cementitious materials with s/s PCMs can be reliably predicted.
• An adapted viscosity model can forecast consistency, aiding material design.
• Further research is needed to facilitate the widespread adoption of s/s PCMs in construction.