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Published on: January 19, 2016
Design, Synthesis and Thermal Energy Storage Properties of Polyurethane-Based Solid-Solid Phase Change Materials
Ting Zhang1, Yuxin Zhang1, Lan Li1
1Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Xiangnan Rare-Precious Metals Compounds Research and Application, School of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423000, China.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 13, 2026
Summary
New polyurethane copolymers function as solid-solid phase change materials (SSPCMs) for thermal energy storage. These synthesized materials demonstrate excellent reusability and thermal stability for effective energy applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Developing efficient thermal energy storage solutions is crucial for renewable energy integration and grid stability.
- Polymeric solid-solid phase change materials (SSPCMs) offer advantages like minimal leakage and good mechanical properties for thermal energy storage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel crosslinked polyurethane copolymers as SSPCMs for thermal energy storage.
- To characterize the chemical structure, thermal properties, and crystalline behavior of the synthesized SSPCMs.
- To evaluate the performance and stability of these materials for practical applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of crosslinked polyurethane copolymers using trihydroxy compounds and polyethylene glycol (PEG).
- Characterization via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD).
- Thermal property analysis using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and evaluation of reusability through thermal cycling and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of three crosslinked polyurethane copolymers confirmed by FTIR.
- POM and WAXD revealed regular spherulitic morphologies and PEG-like crystalline structures.
- DSC showed reversible latent heat storage with a maximum endothermic enthalpy of 115.7 J/g.
- Thermal cycling and TG analysis confirmed excellent reusability, thermal reliability, and high thermal stability.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized crosslinked polyurethane copolymers are effective SSPCMs for thermal energy storage.
- These materials exhibit promising properties including reversible latent heat storage, good crystalline behavior, and high thermal stability.
- The developed SSPCMs show potential for various thermal energy storage applications due to their reusability and reliability.
Keywords:
chain extendercrosslinked polyurethanespolyethylene glycolsolid-solid phase change materialsthermal energy storageMore Related Videos
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