Nano-encapsulated organic phase change material based on copolymer nanocomposites for thermal energy storage

K. Tumirah, M.Z. Hussein, Z. Zulkarnain and R. Rafeadah

Energy, 2014, vol. 66, issue C, 881-890

Abstract: This study deals with fabrication, physico–chemical characterizations and thermal properties of n-octadecane nanocapsules as organic PCM (phase change materials) for TES (thermal energy storage). Nano-encapsulated organic PCM was fabricated by encapsulation of n-octadecane as a core with St (styrene) – MMA (methylmethacrylate) copolymer shell using miniemulsion in-situ polymerization method. The influence of St/MMA and n-octadecane/copolymer mass ratio on the encapsulation processes, physico–chemical and thermal properties of the resulting nanocapsules has been studied systematically. DSC (differential scanning calorimeter) analysis indicated that the n-octadecane in the nanocapsules form melts at 29.5 °C and crystallize at 24.6 °C. N-octadecane nanocapsules has an enthalpy of 107.9 and 104.9 Jg-1 for melting and crystallization, respectively. TGA (thermal gravimetric analysis) thermograms showed that the nano-encapsulated organic PCM degraded in two distinguishable steps and has a good chemical stability. The thermal cycling test of the nanocapsules was carried out for 360 heating/cooling cycles and indicates that the developed nanomaterial has good chemical stability and thermal reliability. Based on all the results obtained, it can be concluded that n-octadecane/St-MMA nanocapsules have potential for thermal energy storage for buildings and other applications.

Keywords: Styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer shell; NPCM (nano-encapsulated phase change materials); N-octadecane; Miniemulsion in-situ polymerization; TES (thermal energy storage) system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:66:y:2014:i:c:p:881-890

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.01.033

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