The goal of this work was to produce a new high performance PCM, using a combination of RT 100 (paraffinic hydrocarbons) with expanded graphite (EG). The resulting composite performed extremely well in quality testing. Thermal conductivity was measured using the TPS method, and was found to be much higher in the composite than it was in the basic RT 100 materials. Thermal conductivity did not decrease during melting cycles. The ability of ...
A new composite phase change material for cold thermal energy storage applications is described in this paper. The authors combined dodecane into hydrophobic fumed silica to create a form stable PCM. Physical characteristics were studied using scanning through electron micrographs and Fourier transformation infrared. A thermal analyzer was used to measure the thermal conductivity of the composite, which was a desired low value needed for this type of application. An ...
This paper focuses on the creation of a new composite phase change material, paraffin-silica (SiO2)/graphene oxide (GO) through a two step process for potential use as a heat transfer fluid in direct absorption solar collectors. The resulting composite is composed of spherical capsules, and has the GO embedded within the SiO2 shell. Thermal conductivity testing with the TPS instrument revealed that the composites had excellent thermal characteristics and stability. ...
Composite carbon foams were prepared by mixing tannin-based resin with various graphite powders in an effort to improve the thermal conductivity relative to pristine carbon foams in order to use them as hosts for phase-change materials. It was found that using graphite powder with smaller particle sizes resulted in foams with a higher bulk density than those prepared with an equal amount of larger graphite particles, this increased density resulted ...
The authors have prepared a shape-stabilized composite phase change material (ss-CPCM) using paraffin encapsulated in SiO2. SiO2 was chosen because of its low cost, such that the resultant ss-CPCM would be a feasible option for use at the commercial or industrial scale. The composite was examined using FTIR and XRD and it was confirmed that it had excellent chemical compatibility and stability. The thermal storage capability and thermal conductivity results ...