EUTECTIC PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE

Abstract

A novel binary eutectic mixture of n-dodecanol and cetostearyl alcohol was prepared as a phase change material for nanoencapsulation for temperature management application. n-dodecanol and cetostearyl alcohol were used to form a eutectic mixture in the 8:2 (wt./wt. %) ratio. The thermal properties of the prepared eutectic and synthesized nano-capsules were examined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The melting point and latent heat of fusion for the eutectic PCM were 18.84 °C and 192.60 J/g, while nano-capsules showed a latent heat of 192.60 J/g with the same melting point. The inert nature of the eutectic PCM towards the used shell materials for synthesizing nano-capsules was examined with the Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The spherical morphology of the nano-capsules and core/shell structure was confirmed by the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), respectively. Dynamic Light Scattering analysis was used to verify and justify the nano-sized capsules between 260 and 1000 nm. From the application point of view, the Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA) determined the thermal stability of the nano-capsules. Synthesized nano-capsules were used to manage the temperature in the temperature-controlled packaging (TCP) box.