Oil-in-Oil emulsions of stearic acid dispersed in silicone oil with enhanced energy storage capability for heat transfer fluids

Abstract

Non-aqueous phase change emulsions are very unknown and promising multifunctional fluids consisting of phase change materials dispersed in carrier fluids, both being oily phases. The oil-in-oil phase change emulsions allow the possibility of using the same medium for latent heat storage and transport under more extreme pressure and temperature conditions. In this paper, stable emulsions composed of stearic acid with a melting point of 68–71 °C dispersed in silicone oil have been developed. Stearic acid-in-silicone oil emulsion samples with different phase concentrations were evaluated by analysing their thermophysical properties, viscous and viscoelastic behaviour and microstructure. Emulsion properties below the melting point of the phase change material were greatly influenced by the concentration of the disperse phase. Thus, as the temperature lowered, a well-developed three-dimensional network of stearic acid crystalline structures interconnected with each other was formed. Furthermore, emulsion physicochemical and thermal stabilities were examined and proved under several mechanical–thermal cycles, withstanding more than 100 cycles in the calorimeter. The results indicate that stearic acid-in-silicone oil emulsions are an attractive candidate for energy storage applications with a phase change enthalpy in emulsions with the 10 wt% of phase change material of 22.32 J/g. • Phase change emulsions PCME are obtained by dispersing stearic acid-in-silicone oil. • PCME present a great potential application as thermal energy storage fluids. • PCME resist heating-cooling cycles and remain microstructurally stable. • Structural/rheological changes are related to the crystallization of the steric acid. • Microstructure is highly susceptible to shear, which is positive for the application.