An overview of phase change materials and their applications in construction industry: Review

Abstract

In recent days the energy consumption is increasing day by day for various regular activities. Construction industry plays a vital role which consumes higher energy than other industry. The various strategies are followed by Engineers and alternate material are used in building construction to reduce energy consumption. The Phase Change Material (PCM) is considered as one of the alternate materials which is to maintain the comfort condition and moderate temperature inside the building. The PCM can accumulate and liberate the energy within controlled temperature. The PCM are available in the form of Organic, In-Organic and Eutectic forms. The applications of PCM are used with concrete, cement mortar and insulation roofs for thermal purpose. This paper reveals detailed review about latent heat storage, melting point, thermal energy storage capacity, mechanical and thermal properties and in PCM blended materials. Thermal properties and energy storage capacity of the PCM materials were analysed with and without PCM by the help of energy simulation software. The Eutectic compound of PCM will be the recent development in concrete and construction materials to reduce the temperature.