CEMENT COMPOSITES WITH THE ADDITION OF PHASE-CHANGE MATERIALS AS INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR MAINTAINING A PLEASANT LIVING ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of the addition of phase-change material (PCM) to mortar mixtures and its effect on the material’s mechanical and thermal properties. This work included the preparation of mortar mixtures with two different water-to-cement (w/c) ratios as well as various PCM volume-fraction additions. The main objectives were to determine the effect of the w/c ratio as well as the PCM addition on the mechanical properties of the mortars after (3, 7, and 28) d of curing. Additionally, we examined the microstructure of the prepared mortar composites and evaluated their thermal behaviour. Microstructural analysis revealed the uniform distribution of PCM microcapsules throughout the mortar matrix, which contributes to the efficient storage and release of thermal energy. Thermal properties were analysed by repeated heating and cooling cycles of the mortar composites. The repeatability of the cyclic testing results showed a reversible melting and solidification phase change of the PCM and indicated the potential use of such composites as an energy-efficient building material. The study highlighted the potential incorporation of the PCM into mortar mixtures to improve their thermal properties while maintaining the mechanical integrity. The research findings provide valuable insight into the development of sustainable building materials with greater energy efficiency and structural reliability.