Foamy phase change materials based on linear low-density polyethylene and paraffin wax blends

Abstract

Foamy phase-change materials (FPCMs) based on linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) blended with 30 wt.% of paraffin wax (W) were successfully prepared for the first time. The advantage of these materials is their double functionality. First, they serve as standard thermal insulators, and second, the paraffin wax acts as a phase change component that absorbs thermal energy (the latent heat) during melting if the temperature increases above its melting point, which ensures better heat protection of buildings, for instance, against overheating. The density of the porous fabricated FPCM was 0.2898 g/cm3 with pore content 69 vol.% and gel portion achieved 27.5 wt.%. The thermal conductivity of the LLDPE/W foam was 0.09 W/m.K, whereas the thermal conductivity of the neat LLDPE foam prepared under the same conditions was 0.06 W/m.K, which caused a higher porosity of approximately 92 vol.%. The FPCM absorbed or released approximately 22–23 J/g during melting or cooling, respectively, and the material was stable under thermal and mechanical cycling.