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Dulcitol/Starch Systems as Shape-Stabilized Phase Change Materials for Long-Term Thermal Energy Storage.
Martyna Szatkowska1, Kinga Pielichowska1
1Department of Biomaterials and Composites, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland.
Researchers developed shape-stable phase change materials (SSPCM) using starch and dulcitol. These novel materials offer excellent thermal energy storage with high latent heat and improved stability for applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Growing interest in phase change materials (PCM) like dulcitol and sugar alcohols for thermal energy storage.
- Sugar alcohols offer high latent heat and cold crystallization but suffer from volume changes and additive sedimentation.
- Need for shape-stable phase change materials (SSPCM) to overcome limitations of traditional PCMs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop shape-stable phase change materials (SSPCM) by co-gelation of starch and dulcitol.
- To characterize the thermal properties and stability of the synthesized dulcitol/starch composites.
- To evaluate the potential of these SSPCMs for long-term thermal energy storage applications.
Main Methods:
- Co-gelation of starch and dulcitol to create shape-stable composites.
- Characterization using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), step-mode DSC, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
- Evaluation of thermal stability and phase transition behavior.
Main Results:
- The dulcitol/starch composites demonstrated significant potential as shape-stabilized phase change materials.
- The 50:50 dulcitol/starch sample showed a high heat of cold crystallization (up to 52.90 J/g) and heat of melting (126.16 J/g).
- Excellent thermal stability was observed, with minimal mass loss below 200 °C, and phase change occurring up to 190 °C.
Conclusions:
- Starch-dulcitol composites are effective shape-stabilized phase change materials.
- These materials exhibit promising thermal energy storage capabilities with enhanced stability.
- The developed SSPCMs are suitable for long-term thermal energy storage applications.
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