Form-stable n-hexadecane/zinc borate composite phase change material for thermal energy storage applications in buildings

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs), which have been in trend in recent years, are smart materials that allow energy to be stored in the form of latent heat in a specific temperature interval without losses. These materials have a wide range of uses and can be used extensively in building applications thus reducing the high energy costs. In this study, preparation of form-stable n-hexadecane (n-HD) /zinc borate (ZB) composite PCM for building applications was aimed. For this aim; n-HD as PCM was integrated with one-step impregnation into a porous polyHIPE composite matrix which is fabricated via polymerization reaction of styrene-divinyl benzene-based high internal phase emulsion in presence of sonochemically synthesized nano-sized ZB. The polyHIPE composite matrix and form-stable n-HD/ZB composite PCM were fully characterized by using physical, chemical and morphological methods namely Brunauer–Emmet–Teller surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. Furthermore, heat storage rate of the obtained composite material was also increased with the addition of ZB besides its thermal stability and surface area. As a result, it can be said that a promising composite PCM was fabricated having 123 J/g thermal energy storage capacity that is suitable for application in buildings by means of its thermal and leakproof properties.