Preparation and Thermal Energy Storage Properties of Poly(n-butyl methacrylate)/Fatty Acids Composites as Form-Stable Phase Change Materials

This work is focused on the preparation, characterization, and determination of thermal energy storage properties of poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA)/fatty acid composites as form-stable phase change material (PCM). In the composite materials, the fatty acids act as latent heat storage material whereas PnBMA serves as supporting material, which prevents the leakage of the melted fatty acids. The maximum encapsulation ratio for all fatty acids was found to be 40 wt%. The composites that do not allow PCM leakage in melted state were identified as form-stable PCMs. The compatibility of fatty acids with PnBMA is investigated by optical microscopy (OM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Thermal properties and thermal reliability of the form-stable composite PCMs were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC analysis revealed that the form-stable composite PCMs had melting temperatures between 29.62 degrees C and 53.73 degrees C and latent heat values between 67.23 J/g and 87.34 J/g. Thermal stability of the composite PCMs was studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis and the results indicated that the form-stable PCMs had good thermal stability. In addition, thermal cycling test showed that the composite PCMs had good thermal reliability with respect to the changes in their thermal properties after accelerated 5,000 thermal cycling. On the basis of all results, it was also concluded that the prepared form-stable composite PCMs had important potential for many thermal energy storage applications such as solar space heating of buildings by using wallboard, plasterboard or floors integrated with PCM. POLYM. COMPOS., 33:92-98, 2012. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers