Thermal Conductivity Enhancement Research Articles

0D/2D Co-Doping Network Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Radiative Cooling Film for Electronic Device Thermal Management.

The radiative cooling has great potential for electronic device cooling without requiring any energy consumption. However, a low thermal conductivity of most radiative cooling materials limits their application. Herein, a multishape codoping strategy was proposed to achieve collaborative enhancement of thermal conductivity and radiative properties. The hBN-coated hollow SiO2 particles were prepared based on electrostatic self-assembly technology, which were then mixed with hBN platelets and doped into a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) substrate. Discrete dipole approximation theory was employed to reveal the mechanism and optimize the particle size. The results showed that the multishape codoping method can significantly improve the radiative performance, with 94.9% reflectivity and 91.2% emissivity. In addition, this zero-dimensional and two-dimensional composite doping structure facilitated the formation of a thermal conduction network, which enhanced the thermal conductivity of the film up to 1.32 W m-1 K-1. The high thermal conductivity radiative cooling film can decrease the heater temperature from 58.8 to 31.3 °C, with a further reduction of temperature by 7.2 °C compared to the radiative cooling substrates with low thermal conductivity. The net cooling power of the film can reach 102.5 W m-2 under direct sunlight. This work provides a novel strategy for high-efficiency electronic device cooling.

0D/2D Co-Doping Network Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Radiative Cooling Film for Electronic Device Thermal Management.

The radiative cooling has great potential for electronic device cooling without requiring any energy consumption. However, a low thermal conductivity of most radiative cooling materials limits their application. Herein, a multishape codoping strategy was proposed to achieve collaborative enhancement of thermal conductivity and radiative properties. The hBN-coated hollow SiO2 particles were prepared based on electrostatic self-assembly technology, which were then mixed with hBN platelets and doped into a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) substrate. Discrete dipole approximation theory was employed to reveal the mechanism and optimize the particle size. The results showed that the multishape codoping method can significantly improve the radiative performance, with 94.9% reflectivity and 91.2% emissivity. In addition, this zero-dimensional and two-dimensional composite doping structure facilitated the formation of a thermal conduction network, which enhanced the thermal conductivity of the film up to 1.32 W m-1 K-1. The high thermal conductivity radiative cooling film can decrease the heater temperature from 58.8 to 31.3 °C, with a further reduction of temperature by 7.2 °C compared to the radiative cooling substrates with low thermal conductivity. The net cooling power of the film can reach 102.5 W m-2 under direct sunlight. This work provides a novel strategy for high-efficiency electronic device cooling.

Physical Adsorption of Polyacrylic Acid on Boron Nitride Nanotube Surface and Enhanced Thermal Conductivity of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Composites

Physical Adsorption of Polyacrylic Acid on Boron Nitride Nanotube Surface and Enhanced Thermal Conductivity of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Composites

Molecular insights into thermal conductivity enhancement and interfacial heat transfer of molten salt/porous ceramic skeleton composite phase change materials

Molten salt has been considered as one of the most promising candidate materials for thermal energy storage (TES) systems owing to its remarkable energy density and consistent thermal performance. These properties render it particularly advantageous for the applications in concentrated solar power (CSP) and industrial process heat utilization. Nonetheless, their practical applications still face nonnegligible challenges such as the low thermal conductivity and risk of leakage. Packing molten salts into porous skeletons could be an effective way for addressing these issues. In the present work, the heat transfer characteristics of a composite phase change material (CPCM) consisting of binary chloride salt and a porous ceramic skeleton, are investigated at the microscale level using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Simulation results indicate that the integration of a porous SiC skeleton can substantially enhance the thermal conductivity of binary molten salt NaCl/KCl. At the temperature of 1000 K, a notable enhancement of 625.74% in thermal conductivity has been observed. Moreover, the underlying mechanism of heat conduction enhancement has been revealed from the microscopic perspective. The results demonstrate that auxiliary thermal conductivity paths and interfacial heat transfer play primary roles in determining the thermal conductivity of CPCMs. The method of surface charge modification can effectively improve the interfacial heat transfer and the reason can be attributed to the additional thermal conductivity paths and the large number of particles involved in the interfacial heat transfer. The results gained in this work may provide insights into the heat transfer mechanism of composite molten salt/porous skeleton as well as practical guidance for designing CPCM for thermal storage applications.

Tensile strain induced enhancement of lattice thermal conductivity and its origin in two-dimensional SnC

Tensile strain induced enhancement of lattice thermal conductivity and its origin in two-dimensional SnC

Reversible two-way tuning of thermal conductivity in an end-linked star-shaped thermoset

Polymeric thermal switches that can reversibly tune and significantly enhance their thermal conductivities are desirable for diverse applications in electronics, aerospace, automotives, and medicine; however, they are rarely achieved. Here, we report a polymer-based thermal switch consisting of an end-linked star-shaped thermoset with two independent thermal conductivity tuning mechanisms—strain and temperature modulation—that rapidly, reversibly, and cyclically modulate thermal conductivity. The end-linked star-shaped thermoset exhibits a strain-modulated thermal conductivity enhancement up to 11.5 at a fixed temperature of 60 °C (increasing from 0.15 to 2.1 W m−1 K−1). Additionally, it demonstrates a temperature-modulated thermal conductivity tuning ratio up to 2.3 at a fixed stretch of 2.5 (increasing from 0.17 to 0.39 W m−1 K−1). When combined, these two effects collectively enable the end-linked star-shaped thermoset to achieve a thermal conductivity tuning ratio up to 14.2. Moreover, the end-linked star-shaped thermoset demonstrates reversible tuning for over 1000 cycles. The reversible two-way tuning of thermal conductivity is attributed to the synergy of aligned amorphous chains, oriented crystalline domains, and increased crystallinity by elastically deforming the end-linked star-shaped thermoset.

Metal ion-crosslinked thermoconductive sugar-functionalized graphene fluoride-based cellulose papers with enhanced mechanical properties and electrical insulation

Thermally conductive papers with electrical insulation and mechanical robustness are essential for efficient thermal management in modern electronics. In this study, we introduced a metal ion-assisted interfacial crosslinking strategy to strengthen sugar-functionalized graphene fluoride (SGF) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) by hydrogen bonding and metal ion crosslinking that leads to simultaneous enhancements in thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. The facile sugar-assisted ball-milling exfoliation method was developed to achieve the exfoliation of graphite fluoride and hydroxyl group functionalization on the surface of graphene fluoride. Thanks to the good dispersibility of the SGF sheets in water, the flexible SGF/CNF composite papers with hydrogen bonding were prepared via vacuum-assisted filtration. We introduced hydrogen bonding and metal ion crosslinking into SGF/CNF papers to obtain densely packed composite papers. Ca2+ or Al3+ ion-crosslinked SGF/ CNF papers exhibited superior thermal and mechanical properties owing to hydrogen bonding and metal ion crosslinking. SGF/CNF-Ca2+ and SGF/CNF-Al3+ papers at 50 wt% of SGF yield in-plane thermal conductivities of 72.93 and 75.02 W m–1 K–1, and tensile strengths of 121.5 and 135.7 MPa, respectively. A thermal percolation value was observed at 12.6 vol% of SGF filler content. In addition, the SGF/CNF papers exhibited electrical insulation properties. These remarkable characteristics of the metal ion-crosslinked SGF/CNF papers are attributed to the densely packed structures caused by the strong interfacial interactions from hydrogen bonding as well as metal ion crosslinking that could promote phonon transport. High-performance metal ion-crosslinked SGF/CNF papers with these fascinating advantages offer great potential for the thermal management of flexible electronics.

Thermal conductivity of different materials nanofluids Nanofluids of MXenes, metal organic frameworks, and other Nanostructured materials in heat transfer applications: Review

Nanoparticles display great potential in heat transfer applications due to their impressive thermophysical properties and unique properties, which enhances the performance of a system. This review delves into the thermophysical characteristics of various nanoparticles, including MXenes, MOFs, CNTs, and graphene, and understand the importance of nanoparticles in heat transfer. MXenes are a relatively new nanoparticle that shows a lot of potential in heat transfer applications; yet, when compared to MOFs, the results demonstrated weren't nearly as impressive because of their larger area and pore size. Conversely, the superior heat transfer performance of CNTs and graphene led to their widespread use in various applications. Thermal conductivity enhancements of 30.6, 64, and 64% for MXene, graphene, and MWCNT were observed when nanoparticles were dispersed in water, indicating better heat transfer for CNT and graphene nanoparticles. Nonetheless, even though some displayed better results than others, each nanoparticle is unique and affects the system distinctively. Additionally, in this review, nanoparticles were investigated computationally, and the results were similar to experimental findings, offering further insight into which nanofluids most effectively influence heat transfer. Overall, nanoparticles enhance system efficiency, making nanofluids reliable for diverse processes despite ongoing challenges. However, nanoparticles in many systems are still being discovered and face many challenges. Therefore, future research should try to focus on studying the effects of nanoparticles in new and large-scale applications and seek solutions to the challenges faced by certain nanoparticles to improve these systems.

Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Phase Change Materials Using Nanomaterials and its Effectiveness in Cooling Solar Cells

Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Phase Change Materials Using Nanomaterials and its Effectiveness in Cooling Solar Cells

Impact of dual nano-enhanced phase change materials on mitigating thermal runaway in lithium-ion battery cell

Thermal management remains a pivotal challenge in enhancing the safety and efficiency of lithium-ion batteries, especially under conditions prone to thermal runaway. This study investigates the performance of dual nano-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCM) in moderating extreme thermal events in battery cells. By integrating nanoparticles, specifically alumina and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), into phase change materials (PCM), the study explores modifications in thermal behavior and phase change dynamics within a cylindrical battery enclosure. The research focuses on comparing the thermal performance of pure PCM and NEPCM, using two types of nanoparticles dispersed within the PCM matrix at various volume fractions. The findings indicate that NEPCM significantly improves heat transfer rates and accelerates the melting process. Specifically, NEPCM with 6 % SWCNT increases the melting temperature distribution by up to 15.27 % compared to pure PCM setups and enhances the liquid fraction by up to 66.54 % under similar conditions. The inclusion of SWCNT demonstrates a superior enhancement in thermal conductivity compared to alumina, leading to more effective heat absorption and dissipation. Liquid fraction analysis confirms that NEPCM configurations facilitate quicker and more uniform thermal behaviors, especially near the heat source. PCM1, positioned adjacent to the battery, exhibits an immediate increase in temperature and melting rate, significantly outperforming PCM2 in thermal regulation. This study underscores the potential of dual nano-enhanced PCM in improving the thermal management of lithium-ion batteries, particularly in scenarios at risk of thermal runaway. By optimizing the PCM formulation with nanoparticles, a robust solution is presented to control temperature spikes and improve battery safety and durability in challenging operational environments.

Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Graphene Films via Secondary Graphitization under a Direct Current Arc

Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Graphene Films via Secondary Graphitization under a Direct Current Arc

Carbon-decorated diatomite stabilized lauric acid-stearic acid as composite phase change materials for photo-to-thermal conversion and storage

Diatomite is a promising supporting matrix in the preparation of composite phase change material for latent thermal energy storage. Raw diatomite has the advantages of porous space but with a shortage of thermal conductivity than carbon materials. In this work, the carbon-decorated diatomite (DC) matrix was synthesized by a novel template-carbonization method at different calcination temperatures of 600 °C, 800 °C, and 1000 °C. Then, the matrix was used to stabilize binary lauric-stearic acid of LA-SA for the preparation of diatomite-based composite phase change material which is used to explore the application of composite in photo-to-thermal conversion/storage. Results show that the carbon-decorated process on diatomite causes an increment of specific surface area and pore space. Thus, more phase change material being loaded in the matrix leads to a larger heat storage capacity of the composite. The designed composite with a matrix carbonization temperature of 1000 °C, LA-SA/DC-1000, has a loadage of 49.92 %, melting temperature of 31.48 °C, and latent heat of 70.07 J g-1 which is improved by 23 %. Compared with the raw diatomite-based composite, the enhancements of thermal conductivity were 90 % for that of LA-SA/DC-1000. Moreover, the corresponding composite exhibits better photo-to-thermal conversion performance and transient temperature response.

Cubic autocatalysis implementation in blood for non-Newtonian tetra hybrid nanofluid model through bounded artery

Abstract Tetra hybrid nanofluids are significant due to their unique properties like thermal and electrical conductivity enhancement, increased heat transfer, and improved fluid flow characteristics. This attempt proposes a tetra hybrid cross nanofluid model with the implementation of cubic autocatalysis in the context of blood flow passing through a stenosis artery. The model includes the effects of nanofluid, magnetic field, thermal radiation, and the cubic autocatalysis mechanism. This research investigates the innovative application of cubic autocatalysis within the context of blood flow through a tetra hybrid cross nanofluid model, specifically designed to simulate conditions within a stenosis horizontal artery. The equations governing the fluid flow are solved using the bvp5c method, and the numerical solutions are obtained for various parameter values. Specifically, the cubic autocatalysis mechanism profoundly impacts the velocity and concentration profiles of the blood flow. The proposed model and the obtained results provide new insights into the physics of blood flow passing through stenosis arteries. They may have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This article has a unique combination of tetra hybrid cross nanofluid model, cubic autocatalysis, and blood flow passing through the stenosis artery. These facts are not typically studied together in the context of blood flow.

Enhancing mechanical property, thermal conductivity, and radiation stability of fluorine rubber through incorporation of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets

AbstractFluorine rubber (FKM) stands as a pivotal sealing material extensively employed in aerospace and nuclear industries. However, its efficacy will be seriously affected by ionizing radiation. Enhancing its radiation resistance becomes imperative to uphold the stability and safety of associated equipment. This study introduced hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) into the FKM as radioprotective fillers through mechanical blending. The interfacial interaction between matrix and h‐BN, the mechanical performances, thermal properties, and radiation stability of composites were systematically examined. Noteworthy findings highlight the presence of robust interaction forces between h‐BN and the matrix, leading to increased crosslink density and improved mechanical properties. The tensile strength of composite with 10 phr fillers (BN/FKM‐10) increased by 30% compared to that of pure FKM. Simultaneously, the introduction of h‐BN greatly enhanced thermal conductivity and radiation stability. The absorbed dose required to achieve a 50% reduction in elongation at break of BN/FKM‐10 surpassed that of FKM by 1.69 times. These results underscore the potential of incorporating h‐BN to simultaneously enhance the mechanical performance, thermal property, and radiation resistance of fluorine rubber.Highlights The chemical interaction force between h‐BN and FKM was confirmed. FKM composites tensile strength was enhanced by h‐BN as an additive crosslinker. The incorporation of h‐BN improves FKM composites thermal conductivity. The radiation resistance of FKM composites has been improved with h‐BN.

Phase change-related thermal property characterization and enhancement in carbon-based organic phase change composites

By utilizing the significant amount of energy absorbed and released during their phase transitions, phase change materials (PCMs) can capture and store thermal energy to fill gaps between supply and demand. Due to their many favorable properties, organic PCMs have gained attention in a wide range of applications. Nevertheless, their inherent low thermal conductivity has limited the direct use of organic PCMs in thermal energy storage (TES). Extensive research has been conducted on enhancing organic PCM thermal conductivity by incorporating high thermal conductivity materials. Owing to their high thermal conductivity and low density, carbon-based materials have been extensively used for thermal conductivity enhancement in phase change composites (PCCs). Carbon-based organic PCCs, which incorporate highly thermally conductive carbon allotropes and their direct chemical derivatives with organic PCMs, are a group of diverse PCCs with highly promising potential for TES applications. Adequate latent heat and shape stability performances are crucial to the success of the applicational performances of these PCCs. Much empirical research has pushed efforts to enhance these phase change properties, yet a logical understanding of these enhancement efforts based on the thermodynamics and intermolecular interactions of carbon-based organic PCCs has been elusive. In particular, the effect of characterization methods on the evaluation of phase change properties has been largely understudied. This review strives to provide novel physical and chemical insights into latent heat and shape stabilization evaluation processes and enhancement efforts in carbon-based organic PCCs through a detailed review and analysis of recent literature. The review provides an unprecedented comprehension of newly developed PCCs that challenge the traditional understanding that the latent heat of PCCs cannot exceed that of its base PCM. Efforts on phase change property enhancement driven by these new insights have the potential for carbon-based organic PCCs to succeed in a variety of TES applications, including solar-thermal harvesting, thermal management of batteries and electronics, thermoregulating textiles, and infrared stealth and infrared responsive materials.

Significantly Enhanced Thermal Conductivity of hBN/PTFE Composites: A Comprehensive Study of Filler Size and Dispersion.

High-temperature polymers are attractive for applications in extreme temperatures, where they maintain their mechanical flexibility and electrical insulating properties. However, their heat dissipation capability is limited due to their intrinsically low thermal conductivities. Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a chemically inert, thermally stable, and electrically insulative compound with a high thermal conductivity, making it an ideal candidate as a filler within a high-temperature polymer matrix to increase the thermal conductivity. This study evaluates the effect of filler size and dispersion on thermal conductivity by producing homogeneous composite samples using a combination of solvent mixing and resonant acoustic mixing (RAM). We carefully characterized our samples, including the spread of the size distribution, and observed that the smaller sized hBN centered around 5 μm was able to integrate more seamlessly into the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) matrix with particle size in the 15 μm range and hence outperformed 30 μm, in contrast to the conventional wisdom, which asserts that larger fillers universally perform better than smaller ones. Our thermal conductivity of hBN/PTFE composites at 30 wt % is 2× higher than the literature values. Notably, we reached the record-high value of 3.5 W/m K at 40 wt % with an onset of percolation at 20 wt %, attributed to optimized hBN dispersion that facilitates the formation of thermal percolation. Our findings provide general guidelines to enhance the thermal conductivity of polymer composites for thermal management, ranging from power transmission to microelectronics cooling.

Exploring the Thermal Potential of Shape Stabilized Graphene Nano Platelets Enhanced Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage

Low thermal conductivity and liquid phase leakage impede the widespread adoption of phase change materials (PCMs). To enhance PCM performance and practical viability, addressing these limitations is crucial. Current study addresses low thermal conductivity and leakage issues. Enhanced thermal conductivity in PCMs is achieved by adding graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs), while expanded graphite (EG) acts as a leak‐proof barrier. The composite PCM (ss‐NePCM) composite is developed by ultra‐sonication followed by vacuum impregnation process. The samples underwent comprehensive analysis: thermal conductivity (TEMPOs), chemical composition (FTIR), photo‐transmittance (UV–Vis), and thermal stability (TGA). The results show that the composite with 0.6 wt% GnP (NePCM3) has the highest thermal conductivity enhancement of ≈112% while adding 15 wt% EG (ss‐NePCM3) diminishes leakage problem. According to the optical performance assessment, the composite exhibits a notable increase in absorbance of 116% higher than that of the base PCM. However, due to the introduction of additives, the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) detected a minor variation from 154 to 144.76 J g−1 in the latent heat. Furthermore, the composite demonstrates chemical stability and thermal reliability following 250 heating and cooling cycles. The ss‐NePCM holds promise for thermal systems, where leakage could jeopardize system integrity.

Research on NaCl-KCl High-Temperature Thermal Storage Composite Phase Change Material Based on Modified Blast Furnace Slag

The high-temperature composite phase change materials (HCPCMs) were prepared from solid waste blast furnace slag (BFS) and NaCl-KCl binary eutectic salt to achieve efficient and cost-effective utilization. To ensure good chemical compatibility with chlorine salt, modifier fly ash (FA) was incorporated and subjected to high-temperature treatment for the processing of industrial solid waste BFS, which possesses a complex chemical composition. The HCPCMs were synthesized through a three-step process involving static melting, solid waste modification, and mixing–cold pressing–sintering. Then, the influence of the modification method and the amount of SiC thermal conductivity reinforced material on chemical compatibility and thermodynamic performance was explored. The results demonstrate that the predominant phase of the modified solid waste is Ca2Al2SiO7, which exhibits excellent chemical compatibility with chlorine salt. HCPCMs containing less than 50 wt.% chloride content exhibit good morphological stability without any cracks, with a melting temperature of 661.76 °C and an enthalpy value of 108.73 J/g. Even after undergoing 60 thermal cycles, they maintain good chemical compatibility, with leakage rates for melting and solidification enthalpies being only 6.3% and 0.23%, respectively. The equilibrium was achieved when 40 wt.% of chloride salt was encapsulated upon the addition of 10% of SiC, and the incorporation of SiC resulted in an enhancement of thermal conductivity for HCPCMs to 2.959 W/(m·K) at room temperature and 2.400 W/(m·K) at 200 °C, with an average increase of about 2 times. The cost of the prepared HCPCMs experienced a significant reduction of 81.3%, demonstrating favorable economic performance and promising prospects for application. The research findings presented in this article can offer significant insights into the efficient utilization of solid waste.

Influence on solar PV performance integrated with heat sinks and nano-enhanced phase change material

The inevitable advancement of solar photovoltaic (PV) system performance highly relies on temperature control, which enhances electrical efficiency. The objective of this study is to enhance electrical efficiency by incorporating phase change material of HS36 (PCM) and nano enhanced PCM (NePM). The thermal properties of PCM were improved by adding graphene flakes (GF) into PCM to enhance the thermal transfer rate between the PV panel and PCM. The phase change properties and thermal conductivity of PCM with different concentrations of GF were assessed. The results indicated that the 0.9 wt.% NePCM exhibited the highest thermal conductivity enhancement of 47% in solid states and a significant reduction in latent heat by 9.4% during freezing compared to pure PCM. The effect of cooling on PV performance was studied using a reference panel, integrated with a heat sink containing PCM (PV/PCM) and NePCM (PV/NePCM). Outdoor experiments were conducted using a 10 W panel, and the results for the use of PCM showed a reduction in temperature and an improvement in efficiency. The findings revealed that attaching a heat sink and integrating the PV panel with pure PCM and NePCM reduced the temperature by 8.65°C and 10.04°C, respectively, and improved efficiency by 11.65% and 12.15%, respectively. It can be concluded that the proposed thermal management method for PV systems offers a viable solution for increasing daily average electrical generation with maximum efficiency.

Expanded Graphite (EG) Stabilization of Stearic and Palmitic Acid Mixture for Thermal Management of Photovoltaic Cells

In this work, passive cooling systems for the revamping of existent silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells were developed and analysed in order to mitigate the efficiency loss caused by temperature rise in the hot season. For this purpose, expanded graphite (EG) was used to stabilize a phase change material (PCM) with a melting temperature close to 53 °C in order to realize thermal management systems (TMSs) able to store heat at constant temperature during melting and releasing it in crystallization. In particular, stearic and palmitic acid mixture (PA-SA) was shape-stabilized in EG at different concentrations (10, 12 and 14 part per hundred ratio) under vacuum into a rotary evaporation apparatus followed by cold compaction; PA-SA leakage was reduced due to its intercalation between the graphite lamellae, and the thermal conductivity necessary to maximize the heat transfer to a bulk TMS was improved via powder cold compaction, which minimizes voids and creates preferential thermal conductive patterns. The composite materials, stable till 150 °C, were tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at 1 °C/min to precisely determine the phase transition temperatures and the enthalpic content, which was only slightly reduced from 196 J/g of the neat PCM to 169 J/g due to the very low EG fraction necessary for the stabilization. Despite only the 14:100 EG-to-PA-SA ratio, the system’s thermal conductivity was enhanced 40 times with respect to the neat PCM (from 0.2 to 8.3 W/(m K), value never reached in works present in the literature), with a good convergence of the values evaluated through hot disk tests and laser flash analysis (LFA), finding correlation with both graphitic content and density. In order to completely avoid leaking with the consequent dispersion of PCM in the environment during the final application, all the samples were encapsulated in a PE-made film. The mechanical properties were evaluated with compression tests at 30 °C and 80 °C simulating a possible compressive stress deriving from the contact needed to maintain the TMS position on the rear of the PV cells. Finally, the material response was simulated by imposing thermal cycles into a climatic chamber and reproducing the three hottest and coldest days of summer 2022 of two Italian locations, Verona (Veneto, 45° N, 11° E) and Gela (Sicily, 37° N, 14° E), thus highlighting the thermal management effects with delays in temperature increase and daily peak temperature smoothing. The role of EG is strategic for the processing and the properties of the resulting composites in order to realize a proper compromise between the melting enthalpy of PCM and the thermal conductivity enhancement given by EG.