Preparation and Properties of Capric-Lauric-Palmitic Acid Eutectic Mixtures/Expanded Graphite Composite as Phase Change Materials for Energy Storage

Abstract

This work is focused on the preparation and properties of ternary fatty acid eutectic mixtures/ expanded graphite form-stable phase change materials (PCMs). Based on the theoretical calculation of the mass ratio and ternary eutectic melting temperature, the ternary eutectic mixture of capric acid (CA), lauric acid (LA) and palmitic acid (PA) was prepared firstly, which is for the sake of decreasing the phase transformation temperature. Thermal characteristics such as melting temperature and latent heat of fusion of these developed eutectics measured by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique, which also showed that the eutectic mixture was composed by CA, LA and PA in the mass ratio of 59.7:30.1:10.02. Then the CA–LA–PA was absorbed in expanded graphite (EG), which acts as a supporting material, the optimum mass ratio of CA–LA–PA to EG is 17:1. The CA–LA–PA/EG composites were characterized by the scanning electronic microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The SEM observations showed that the CA–LA–PA was adsorbed into the porous structure of EG, instead of any chemical action. The DSC results indicated that the phase change temperature and latent heat of the CA–LA–PA and CA–LA–PA/EG were 19.92 °Cand 19.48 °C, and 135.49 J/g and 130.73 J/g respectively. The thermal conductivity of CA–LA–PA /EG composite PCM was improved by the high thermal conductivity of the EG. Thermal cycling test showed that the CA–LA–PA/EG composite had a good thermal reliability. All results indicated that CA–LA–PA/EG composite PCM has a proper melting temperature and latent heat for building energy conservation.