Two organic phase change materials (PCMs) were investigated to determine their effects on the thermal management capabilities of electronics. The thermo-physical properties of n-eicosane and 1-hexadecanol were determined experimentally, and the two PCMs were then added to unfinned, and finned heat sinks. It was determined that a PCM with a high melting point is able to increase the time of protection from overheating; however, it was also determined that if ...
A nanoparticle-enhanced phase change material (NePCM) is prepared by the dispersal of carbon nanotubes in 1-dodecanol. The objective of this experiment was to determine if the addition of nanoparticles could increase the thermal conductivity of the base PCM while resulting in a NePCM that would still have the required properties of a functional PCM. It was found that the thermal conductivity was enhanced through the addition of the carbon nanotubes; ...