Effects of nano-SiO2 on morphology, thermal energy storage, thermal stability, and combustion properties of electrospun lauric acid/PET ultrafine composite fibers as form-stable phase change materials

Yibing Cai, Huizhen Ke, Ju Dong, Qufu Wei, Jiulong Lin, Yong Zhao, Lei Song, Yuan Hu, Fenglin Huang, Weidong Gao and Hao Fong

Applied Energy, 2011, vol. 88, issue 6, 2106-2112

Abstract: The ultrafine composite fibers consisting of lauric acid (LA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and silica nanoparticles (nano-SiO2) were prepared through the materials processing technique of electrospinning as an innovative type of form-stable phase change materials (PCMs). The effects of nano-SiO2 on morphology, thermal energy storage, thermal stability, and combustion properties of electrospun LA/PET/SiO2 composite fibers were studied. SEM images revealed that the LA/PET/SiO2 composite fibers with nano-SiO2 possessed desired morphologies with reduced average fiber diameters as compared to the LA/PET fibers without nano-SiO2. DSC measurements indicated that the amount of nano-SiO2 in the fibers had an influence on the crystallization of LA, and played an important role on the heat enthalpies of the composite fibers; while it had no appreciable effect on the phase change temperatures. TGA results suggested that the incorporation of nano-SiO2 increased the onset thermal degradation temperature, maximum weight loss temperature, and charred residue at 700 °C of the composite fibers, indicating the improved thermal stability of the fibers. MCC tests showed that the heat resistance effect and/or barrier property generated by nano-SiO2 resulted in an increase of initial combustion temperature and a decrease of the heat release rate for the electrospun ultrafine composite fibers.

Keywords: Form-stable; phase; change; materials; Electrospinning; LA/PET; composite; fibers; Nano-SiO2; Morphology; Thermal; energy; storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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