Preparation and Characterization of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials with Enhanced Thermal Performance for...

Microencapsulated phase-change materials (MPCMs) with excellent thermal properties for low-temperature cold storage were developed in this study. Using 1-decanol as the core and methyl methacrylate as the shell precursor, the effects of emulsifier type and ultrasonic emulsification conditions were investigated. Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer served effectively as a protective colloid emulsifier, producing MPCMs with high enthalpy and a well-defined, uniform microstructure. Under optimal conditions of 5 wt% emulsifier content relative to the oil phase, an ultrasonic power of 375 W, and an emulsification time of 12 min, the MPCMs exhibited a phase-change enthalpy of 126.7 kJ/kg. To further improve the thermal properties, a binary eutectic mixture was prepared by combining 1-decanol and 1-tetradecane at an optimal molar ratio (51.1:48.9). This binary-core MPCM showed a higher storage enthalpy (144.3 kJ/kg), with an increase of 13.9% compared to the single-core material (1-decanol). It also exhibited improved microstructural uniformity due to the stabilizing role of 1-tetradecane. These optimized MPCMs demonstrate phase-transition temperatures particularly suitable for low-temperature thermal storage, providing a practical and innovative technical solution for cold-chain logistics and vaccine refrigeration applications.