Analysis of stable phase change material made using rubberwood biochar for thermal energy storage

Abstract

This work analyses the stability of phase change materials (PCM) after being mixed with rubber wood biochar for thermal energy storage. Stable phase change materials are getting much attention from around the globe as they provide better functionality specifically to regulate temperature changes during day and night in building construction elements. The objective of this work is to compare the possibility of using raw rubberwood particles and rubberwood biochar as shape-stabilising materials for the palmitic acid as the phase change material. The rubberwood particles were pyrolysed, impregnated with palmitic acid and dried. Raw rubberwood particles were also impregnated with palmitic acid as a comparison. Unsaturated polyester was mixed with the impregnated particles before making the composite. The thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared analysis (FT-IR) evaluation was carried out on the samples. It was observed from DSC analysis that between 30 °C and 200 °C, the samples shows heat absorptive characteristic, which is an essential feature of a material for latent heat storage. Therefore, this material can potentially be used as thermal energy storage for green buildings.