Shape-stabilized composite phase change materials with high thermal conductivity based on stearic acid and modified expanded vermiculite

Xiaoguang Zhang, Zhaoyu Yin, Dezhi Meng, Zhaohui Huang, Ruilong Wen, Yaoting Huang, Xin Min, Yangai Liu, Minghao Fang and Xiaowen Wu

Renewable Energy, 2017, vol. 112, issue C, 113-123

Abstract: Stearic acid (SA) and modified expanded vermiculite (EV) shape-stabilized composite phase change materials (ss-CPCMs) with enhanced thermal conductivity were prepared. EV was impregnated with a starch solution, and then a composite of EV and carbon (EVC) was obtained by carbonizing starch in-situ in the EV layers. 63.12 wt % of SA was retained in the SA/EVC ss-CPCMs without leakage. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the EVC with highly porous micro-pores acted as a good support matrix for absorbing molten SA. The thermal conductivity of the SA/EVC ss-CPCMs was 0.52 W/(m K), and this was an increase of 52.9% compared with that of the SA/EV ss-CPCMs. The results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and thermal cycling tests indicated that the prepared SA/EVC ss-CPCMs are a promising material for energy efficient buildings because of their optimum phase-change temperature, a high enthalpy of phase change, ideal thermal conductivity, and good chemical and thermal stability.

Keywords: Stearic acid; Expanded vermiculite; Carbon; Phase change materials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:112:y:2017:i:c:p:113-123

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.026

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