Good Mechanical Strength Research Articles

A Paper‐Like Hydrogel for Versatile Information Encryption and Decryption Via Chemical‐Induced Phase Separation

AbstractInformation coding, recording, encryption, and decryption are of great importance in the field of anti‐counterfeiting, especially in the current AI information era. Herein, a paper‐like hydrogel composed of solely H‐bonded poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(n‐vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL), namely VAPN, is developed for multiple ways of encryption and decryption based on chemical‐induced phase separation. It not only exhibits excellent ability of ink absorption and retention by the noncovalent H‐bonds and n−π* interactions and good mechanical strength but also maintains a negligible volume change during the phase separation that is crucial for the information fidelity. Given that the noncovalent interactions are the driving force to trigger the phase separation in the hydrogel, available chemical inks are numerous ranging from small molecules to polymers. Furthermore, together with thermally induced phase separation, the different dynamic processes of the association and dissociation between ink molecules and the hydrogel endow the latter with reversible information recording and self‐erasing, temporary or permanent, and customized encryption and decryption.

Shape-memory cellulose nanofiber/polyglutamic acid-based aerogels as novel adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions

Water bodies contaminated by heavy metals pose a severe threat to human health and the eco-system. The synthesis of eco-friendly adsorbents is essential to eliminate the use of toxic chemicals to eradicate heavy metal pollution from water bodies. In this study, a novel aerogel was prepared using a simple one-pot reaction between cellulose nanofibers and polyglutamic acid through a crosslinking reaction for the removal of lead, zinc, and copper ions from aqueous solutions. Surface analysis revealed that the aerogel consisted of abundant carboxyl and amino functional groups. The optimal pH of the solution for the adsorption of lead, zinc, and copper was 4, 5, and 5 respectively. The experimental data revealed that the adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics at 22 °C for all the heavy metals. The adsorption behaviour of zinc and copper could be described through the Langmuir isotherm model whereas, the adsorption behaviour of lead was described by the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum experimental adsorption capacity was 101.81, 59.26, 100.59 mg/g for lead, zinc, and copper respectively. The adsorption mechanisms involved were coordination bonding and electrostatic attraction. The high adsorption capacity, ease of separability and good mechanical strength deems these aerogels suitable for the adsorption of heavy metals from water.

Unsaturated cobalt-nitrogen atomic sites in necklace-like hairy fibers towards highly efficient oxygen electrocatalysis for flexible Zn-Air battery

Exploration of single-atom catalysts (SACs) with high activity and efficient utilization efficiency holds great promise in the field of electrocatalysis. However, it is still a challenge to rationally design the SACs due to their properties are greatly influenced by the local electron environment and the effective substrate. Herein, we synchronously realized the modulation of unsaturated cobalt-nitrogen atomic sites (CoN3) and uniformly archoring them on the carbon-nanotube assembled necklace-like fiber (NLF). The unsaturated cobalt-nitrogen atomic sites with asymmetric structure favor the adsorption/desorption features and promote the electrocatalytic reactions of oxygen. Meanwhile, the hairy NLF fiber with the highly conductive and porous matrix guarantees the active sites accessibility and fast kinetics. In addition, the unique necklace-like configuration endows good mechanical strength and high reliability for the CoN3 NLF fiber. Both density functional theoretical (DFT) calculation and the experimental results reveal its superior catalytic properties and good reliability in the oxygen electrocatalytic reactions. Moreover, the finite element analysis (FEA) and the corresponding tests further certify its high pliability and good robustness. Based on the CoN3 NLF fiber air cathode, the aqueous Zn-air battery (ZAB) delivers a high power density (306 mW cm−2) and outstanding cycling stability over 300 h. Furthermore, all-solid-state ZAB based on the freestanding CoN3 NLF air cathode shows considerable flexibility and superior reliability over a wide range of temperatures (-20∼25 °C). Therefore, this work provides an effective catalyst design for the development of metal-air batteries for diverse applications.

Study of the cooling performance of an anti-condensation radiant cooling unit with an infrared-transparent silicon wafer

Radiant cooling systems consume a low amount of energy and provide high thermal comfort; however, the risk of condensation in hot and humid areas limits their cooling capacity and is not conducive to their application. To solve the contradiction between condensation problems and the cooling demand, this study proposes a novel anti-condensation radiant cooling unit (RCU) that uses an infrared-transparent silicon wafer (ISW) with a good mechanical strength to separate the cooling radiant panel from the humid air, thus avoiding condensation. A heat transfer model of the anti-condensation RCU was established, and experimental tests were conducted under different indoor air temperatures, humidities, and vacuum degrees in the interlayer. At a temperature of 26 °C in 50 % relative humidity, the maximum cooling capacity of the anti-condensation RCU reached 103.66 W/m2, which was 60.88 % higher than the performance of conventional RCU. When the vacuum degree of the interlayer was 0.06 Mpa, the air-contacting surface outside the ISW was approximately 1.2 °C higher than that of atmospheric pressure. The results demonstrate that the anti-condensation RCU overcomes the limitation of the dew-point temperature on the cooling capacity to a certain extent and expands its applicability in high-humidity environments.

High- and low-cycle-fatigue properties of additively manufactured Inconel 625

In the last years, additive manufacturing has become a widespread technology which enables lightweight-design based on topological optimization. Therefore, generation of lattice structures with complex geometries and small thicknesses is allowed. However, a complete metallurgical and mechanical characterization of these materials is crucial for their effective adoption as alternative to conventionally manufactured alloys. Industrial applications require good corrosion resistance and mechanical strength to provide sufficient reliability and structural integrity. Particularly, fatigue behavior becomes a crucial factor since presence of poor surface finishing can decrease fatigue limits significantly. In this work, both the low-cycle-fatigue and high-cycle-fatigue behaviors of Inconel 625, manufactured by Selective Laser Melting, were investigated. Fatigue samples were designed to characterize small parts and tested in the as-built condition since reticular structures are usually adopted without any finishing operation. Microstructural features were studied by light-optical microscopy and scanning-electron microscopy. Finally, fatigue failures were deeply investigated considering fracture mechanics principles with the Kitagawa–Takahashi diagram.

Enhanced compressive strength of porous alumina realized by synergy between La‐doping and two‐step sintering

AbstractSintering phenomena, densification, and grain growth are crucial for proper control of the microstructure for good mechanical strength. Here, materials and processing parameters, the addition of La2O3, and two‐step sintering (TSS) were combined to lead to higher strength in the porous alumina prepared by freeze‐casting. Based on grain growth and densification behaviors with the La2O3 doping, a beneficial thermal profile was designed for the TSS. As a result, higher relative density levels and smaller grain size were obtained compared with the results with conventional sintering (CS): 38.56% and 0.82 µm at 1500°C by CS; 40.78% and 1.78 µm at 1600°C by CS; 41.43% and 0.87 µm by TSS. The microstructural benefits provided ∼1.4 times higher compressive strength (5.46 MPa) from TSS than from the CS sample (3.92 MPa), highlighting the synergetic effect of La2O3 doping and the TSS strategy.

Mechanical behavior of recyclable polymeric specimens made by additive manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has seen a massive growth in engineering applications in recent years. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), probably the most widespread technology, is nowadays capable of producing polymeric components for all kinds of need: from common use to advanced engineering applications, thanks to the usage of a wide range of polymer materials. Some of them (such as PEEK, PEI and others so-called ultra-polymers) offer very good mechanical properties and sometimes can be even capable of replacing metals. In addition, they are stable at relatively high temperatures and thermally re-processable and recyclable, showing good biocompatibility in most of cases. The distinct advantages of AM have facilitated the rapid development of polymer products with complex customized structures and functionalities, thereby enhancing their applications in various fields. In this work, the mechanical behaviors of FFF manufactured polycarbonate (PC) and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) coupons, both suitable for building construction applications thanks to their good mechanical strength, thermal insulation capability and resistance to ultraviolet (UV) rays, were preliminarily investigated. The aim was to assess the durability of such materials in order to possibly exploit their potential in substitution to conventional ones, in light of their recyclability, so as to eventually promote circularity.

NMR contributions to the study of water transfer in proton exchange membranes for fuel cells

As programs to support efficient and sustainable energy sources are expanding, research into the potential applications of the hydrogen vector is accelerating. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are electrochemical converters that transform the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy. These devices are used today for low- and medium-power stationary applications and for mobility, in trains, cars, bicycles, etc. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells use a polymer membrane as the electrolyte. The role of the membrane is multiple: it must separate gases, be an electronic insulator and a very good ionic conductor. In addition, it must resist free-radical chemical attack and have good mechanical strength. Nafion-type perfluorinated membranes have all these properties: the fluorinated backbone is naturally hydrophobic, but the hydrophilic ionic groups give the material excellent water sorption properties. The water adsorbed in the structure is extremely mobile, acting as a transport medium for the protons generated at the anode. Although it has been studied for a long time and has been the subject of a large number of papers perfluorinated membranes are still the reference membranes today. This article reviews some contributions of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance methods in liquid state to the study of water properties in the structure of Nafion-type perfluorinated membranes.

Exploring the potential of an Aloe vera and honey extract loaded bi-layered nanofibrous scaffold of PCL-Col and PCL-SBMA mimicking the skin architecture for the treatment of diabetic wounds.

Diabetic wounds are often chronic in nature, and issues like elevated blood sugar, bacterial infections, oxidative stress and persistent inflammation impede the healing process. To ensure the appropriate healing of wounds, scaffolds should promote complete tissue regeneration in wounds, both functionally and structurally. However, the available scaffolds lack the explicit architecture and functionality that could match those of native skin, thus failing to carry out the scar-free skin regeneration in diabetic wounds. This study deals with the synthesis of a bi-layered nanofibrous scaffold mimicking the native skin architecture in terms of porosity and hydrophobic-hydrophilic gradients. In addition, herbal extracts of Aloe vera and litchi honey were added in consecutive layers to manage the high blood glucose level, inflammation, and increased ROS level associated with diabetic wounds. In vitro studies confirmed that the prepared scaffold with herbal extracts showed enhanced proliferation of skin cells with good mechanical strength, degradability, anti-bacterial and anti-diabetic properties. The scaffold also demonstrated superior wound healing in vivo with quicker scar-free wound recovery and appropriate skin regeneration, compared to conventional treatment. Altogether, the synthesized herbal extract loaded bi-layered nanofibrous scaffold can be used as a regenerative template for hard-to-heal diabetic wounds, offering a new strategy for the management of chronic wounds.

Flexible solid-state Zn-air battery based on polymer-oxygen-functionalized g-C3N4 composite membrane.

Personalized healthcare devices require an energy storage system that is flexible and has good mechanical strength and stability for long periods. Zn-air batteries show promise as an alternative to Li-air batteries for this purpose. Zn-air batteries with a high theoretical specific energy density of 1350 W h kg-1 have the potential to replace other metal-air batteries but faces the challenges, such as dendrite formation and Zn corrosion, hindering their successful commercialization. In this work, we report the design and performance optimization of a solid-state flexible Zn-air battery with superior performance and good mechanical property. In addition, we focused on the development of a gel-polymer composite membrane as the electrolyte. The main advantage of the flexible electrolyte is its optimum combination of good ionic conductivity and mechanical strength. Thus, we attempted to address the above-mentioned issues by modifying poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with o-g-C3N4 through the in situ formation of a composite. The interaction between the functional groups of o-g-C3N4 and PVA increased the conductivity without compromising the mechanical behavior of the composite. According to the optimization of the composite composition, it was concluded that 0.32 wt% o-g-C3N4 in PVA showed the highest conductivity and excellent mechanical strength (increase from 25 MPa for pristine PVA membrane to 35 MPa for g-C3N4-PVA composite membrane). The performance of the solid-state battery was better (40 hours) than the standard PVA KOH (13 hours) membrane. Moreover, the stability of the battery was retained at various bending angles, demonstrating its potential to be used in flexible electronic devices.

A hierarchical carbon foam-hosted Co2P nanoparticles monolithic electrode for ampere-level and super-durable electrocatalytic hydrogen production.

In this work, we develop a hierarchical carbon foam-based monolithic electrode (Co2P@HCF) from Co2+-adsorbed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge via the successive carbonization and phosphorization. Owing to the 3D hierarchical porous structure, excellent electrolyte wettability, good mechanical strength, and intimate embedding of highly dispersed Co2P nanoparticles, the Co2P@HCF electrode delivers a high current density of 1.0 A cm-2 for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at ultralow overpotentials of 189.6 and 218.6 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH solutions, respectively, with remarkable durability for 100 h.

Increasing the adhesion laminated films based on polyimide to the surface

Polyimide film is widely used in various fields of industry, ranging from space technology to microelectronics. The widespread use of the film is due to its high thermal stability, low dielectric constant and good mechanical strength. However, the polyimide film also has a serious disadvantage that prevents its use in a number of applications, namely, a relatively low surface energy, manifested in the low adhesive strength of the film’s compounds with other polymers and metals. Currently, a number of surface modification methods of polyimide film are known to improve adhesive properties of the surface without changing the properties of material thickness. The existing methods of polyimide film surface modification can be divided into two large groups: chemical, “wet” methods and “dry” ion-beam and plasma methods. The article presents the results of studies of polyimide adhesion changes depending on the methods of plasma treatment.

Development of 3D printed electrospun vascular graft loaded with tetramethylpyrazine for reducing thrombosis and restraining aneurysmal dilatation.

Small-diameter vascular grafts have become the focus of attention in tissue engineering. Thrombosis and aneurysmal dilatation are the two major complications of the loss of vascular access after surgery. Therefore, we focused on fabricating 3D printed electrospun vascular grafts loaded with tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) to overcome these limitations. Based on electrospinning and 3D printing, 3D-printed electrospun vascular grafts loaded with TMP were fabricated. The inner layer of the graft was composed of electrospun poly(L-lactic-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) nanofibers and the outer layer consisted of 3D printed polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers. The characterization and mechanical properties were tested. The blood compatibility and in vitro cytocompatibility of the grafts were also evaluated. Additionally, rat abdominal aortas were replaced with these 3D-printed electrospun grafts to evaluate their biosafety. Mechanical tests demonstrated that the addition of PCL microfibers could improve the mechanical properties. In vitro experimental data proved that the introduction of TMP effectively inhibited platelet adhesion. Afterwards, rat abdominal aorta was replaced with 3D-printed electrospun grafts. The 3D-printed electrospun graft loaded with TMP showed good biocompatibility and mechanical strength within 6months and maintained substantial patency without the occurrence of acute thrombosis. Moreover, no obvious aneurysmal dilatation was observed. The study demonstrated that 3D-printed electrospun vascular grafts loaded with TMP may have the potential for injured vascular healing.

Enhancing Mechanical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Portland Cement through Titanium Oxide Incorporation

The impact of various factors such as microbes, allergens, inadequate environmental conditions, pollutants, and suboptimal building materials on human health within indoor environments is of utmost importance due to the significant amount of time people spend inside buildings. The objective of this study was to assess the combination of Portland cement (PC) with Titanium Oxide (TiO2) nano powder for antimicrobial properties with good physical and mechanical strength. TiO2 was added to PC at various percentages (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% by the weight of cement) and analysis of slump flow, compressive strength and flexural strength were determined. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar diffusion test, utilizing 4 bacteria strains: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results showed that the addition of TiO2 increased the mechanical strength of the specimen with 1.0% TiO2 displaying the optimum result. For the antimicrobial activity, samples with 1.05% TiO2 had the highest efficiency in inhibiting bacteria growth. The findings showed that a lower percentage of TiO2 added to the PC mortar significantly enhances its mechanical properties and is efficient in inhibiting the growth of bacteria. Such mortar mixture with antibacterial properties should be utilized to enhance hygiene conditions in diverse environments, including hospitals, institutional kitchens, etc., where such properties are necessary.

A multimodal therapy for infected diabetic wounds based on glucose-responsive nanocomposite-integrated microneedles.

Diabetic wounds in a state of high glucose are refractory to treatment and healing, especially if they are infected with bacteria. Herein, a novel nanocomposite (CIP/GOx@ZIF-8) was synthesized by loading ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) and glucose oxidase (GOx) into zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) that exhibited good glucose sensitivity and catalytic activity. The high glucose in diabetic wounds could be decomposed into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and gluconic acid via the catalysis of GOx, which further destroyed CIP/GOx@ZIF-8 to release Zn2+ and cargos. The combination of glucose starvation, Zn2+, H2O2 and CIP could elevate the antibacterial effect and reduce bacterial resistance. Subsequently, the nanocomposite was fabricated into dissolving microneedles (CIP/GOx@ZIF-8 MNs) using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The microneedles exhibited good mechanical strength, puncture performance, dissolving performance, glucose responsiveness, antibacterial performance and biocompatibility. For in vivo wound healing, CIP/GOx@ZIF-8 MNs with good biosafety facilitated neovascularization and collagen deposition as well as reduced inflammation, and the wounds were almost healed after treatment. This multimodal therapeutic strategy is created to provide a unique treatment for infected diabetic wounds.

Bioinspired triple-layered membranes for periodontal guided bone regeneration applications.

Barrier membranes have been used for the treatment of alveolar bone loss caused by periodontal diseases or trauma. However, an optimal barrier membrane must satisfy multiple requirements simultaneously, which are challenging to combine into a single material. We herein report the design of a bioinspired membrane consisting of three functional layers. The primary layer is composed of clay nanosheets and chitin, which form a nacre-inspired laminated structure. A calcium phosphate mineral layer is deposited on the inner surface of the nacre-inspired layer, while a poly(lactic acid) layer is coated on the outer surface. The composite membrane integrates good mechanical strength and deformability because of the nacre-inspired structure, facilitating operations during the implant surgery. The mineral layer induces the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and increases the stiffness of the membrane, which is an important factor for the regeneration process. The poly(lactic acid) layer can prevent unwanted mineralization on the outer surface of the membrane in oral environments. Cell experiments reveal that the membrane exhibits good biocompatibility and anti-infiltration capability toward connective tissue/epithelium cells. Furthermore, in vitro analyses show that the membrane does not degrade too fast, allowing enough time for bone regeneration. In vivo experiments prove that the membrane can effectively induce better bone regeneration and higher trabecular bone density in alveolar bone defects. This study demonstrates the potential of this bioinspired triple-layered membrane with hierarchical structures as a promising barrier material for periodontal guided tissue regeneration.

The Preparation and Performance of Bamboo Waste Bio-Oil Phenolic Resin Adhesives for Bamboo Scrimber

Bamboo is a fast-growing plant with properties such as low cost, abundant resources, and good carbon sequestration effect. However, the swift growth of bamboo resources generates an immense quantity of processing waste, which is necessary to effectively utilize bamboo processing waste. The leftovers from bamboo processing can be reutilized by fast pyrolysis to prepare renewable bio-oil. In this study, bamboo bio-oil was partially substituted for phenol to synthesize phenolic resin with different substitution rates under the action of an alkaline catalyst, and then to serve as the adhesive to produce bamboo scrimber. Bamboo bundles were impregnated with synthetic bio-oil phenolic resin to create bamboo scrimber, which was subsequently hot-pressed. The research shows that modified phenolic resins with a bio-oil substitution rate of under 30% have good physical and chemical properties, while the free aldehyde content of phenolic resin with 40% bio-oil substitution exceeds the limit value (0.3%) specified in the Chinese National Standard. The thermal stability of phenolic resins was also increased after bio-oil modification, indicated by the movement of the TG curve to higher temperature ranges. It was found that the bamboo scrimber prepared with 20% BPF resin adhesive had the best comprehensive properties of a good mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, and mildew resistance, particularly with an elastic modulus of 9269 MPa and a static bending strength of 143 MPa. The microscopic morphology showed that the BPF resin was well impregnated into the interior of the bamboo bundle and had a compact bonding structure within the bamboo scrimber. The anti-mold performance experiment found that the bio-oil-modified resin increased the anti-mold level of the bamboo scrimber from slightly corrosion-resistant to strong corrosion-resistant. The conclusions obtained from this study have a good reference value for achieving the comprehensive utilization of bamboo, helping to promote the use of all components, reduce the production cost of bamboo scrimber, and improve its mildew resistance performance. This provides new ideas for the development of low-cost mildew resistant bamboo scrimber novel materials.

Development and characterization of antibacterial 3D porous hydroxyapatite-gelatin-PVA scaffolds containing zinc oxide nanoparticles

There is still a need to develop hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin-based porous scaffolds to provide a hybrid system with structural and biochemical properties equivalent to those of bone. Here, we fabricated and characterized 3D hybrid scaffolds composed of HAp nanoparticles synthesized in situ in gelatin and PVA solutions and loaded with combustionally synthesized (10 wt%) zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to ensure their homogeneous embedding in the polymer matrices. The phase analysis, composition, morphological and microstructural properties of ZnO NPs and freeze-dried hybrid scaffolds were studied. The compressive strength, porosity, swelling capacity, degradation rate, and antibacterial activity of the hybrid scaffolds were measured. The fabricated 3D scaffolds showed high porosity of up to 78 % with a pore size of about 50–300 μm, good mechanical strength in the range of about 55 kPa, high swelling capacity of up to 505 %, and long-term degradation rate of about 22–25 % for up to 35 days. ZnO NPs have a pure phase and a quasi-spherical shape with a size of about 78 ± 25 nm structure and there are no significant differences between the physicochemical properties of ZnO-free scaffolds and ZnO-loaded scaffolds. Incorporation of ZnO NPs into the scaffolds enhanced their antibacterial response against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). This work provides advanced 3D porous hybrid bone scaffolds with favorable mechanical performance and antibacterial activity for bone repair and regeneration.

Multifunctional carbon nanotube hydrogels with on-demand removability for wearable electronics

Wearable electronics that can convert various external stimuli into electrical signals hold great potential for diverse applications. Efforts in this area are focused on developing functional hydrogels to improve the values of these flexible electronics. Herein, we present a novel carbon nanotube (CNT)-based hydrogel with the synergistic features of good mechanical strength, high sensitivity, self-healing capability, and on-demand removability for wearable electronics. The hydrogel was fabricated by mixing dopamine-modified oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA-DA), cyanoacetate group-functionalized dextran (DEX-CA), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the presence of histidine. The catechol and aldehyde groups on OHA-DA impart the hydrogel with high tissue adhesiveness. Owing to the existence of CNTs, the hydrogel exhibited outstanding conductivity and could respond to different human motions and convert these stimuli as resistance signals. Notably, because of the photothermal conversion property of CNTs and thermally reversible performance of the generated C=C double bonds between aldehyde groups and cyanoacetate groups, the hydrogel was imparted with intriguing on-demand dissolution ability under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation and could be facilely removed from tissues whenever necessary. We believe that such hydrogel will open up new opportunities for the design and construction of next-generation wearable electronics.

From waste to value: Utilising waste foundry sand in thermal energy storage as a matrix material in composites

Waste foundry sand (WFS) is a by-product of the casting industry, which poses increasing economic and environmental issues due to the costs associated with landfill maintenance and stricter environmental regulations. This study proposes a novel solution for WFS as a material for thermal energy storage. The approach involves blending WFS with NaNO3 and a proprietary additive, X, to fabricate a composite phase change material (CPCM). The CPCM is found to be structurally stable up to 400 °C, and an optimal composition with a mass ratio of NaNO3:WFS:X = 0.6:0.3:0.1 is achieved. This composition yields an energy storage density of 628 ± 27 kJ/kg, and an average thermal conductivity of 1.38 W/mK over the temperature range of 25–400 °C. The CPCM also exhibits good mechanical strength and a low coefficient of thermal expansion compared to NaNO3. Currently, only a small portion of WFS is recycled, most commonly in building applications. The CPCM presented in this study has the potential for medium-to-high temperature heat storage in waste heat recovery applications, offering a sustainable solution for upcycling WFS.