ABSTRACT Sugar alcohols are considered highly promising medium-temperature phase change materials (PCMs) due to their superior overall performance. In this study, erythritol (Ery) was used as the base PCM, with expanded graphite (EG) and graphite powder (G) as additives. Ternary composite PCMs were prepared using a melt blending method, and their thermal storage properties were systematically characterized. The results showed that the two ternary composite PCMs, 1.5 wt% G/1.5 wt% EG/Ery and 4.5 wt% G/1.5 wt% EG/Ery, exhibited the best overall thermal performance, with excellent heat storage and crystallization heat release characteristics. While maintaining the same melting point, these two composite PCMs retained high melting enthalpies, specifically 325.8 kJ/kg and 316.1 kJ/kg, respectively. Their thermal conductivities reached 2.11 W/(m·K) and 2.48 W/(m·K), representing an increase of 2.0 and 2.5 times compared to Ery, with thermal effusivities improved by 45.8% and 57.0%, respectively. The crystallization enthalpy increased to 233.6 kJ/kg and 230.8 kJ/kg, with heat release ratios improved by approximately 10%. Additionally, thermal stability was significantly enhanced, with decomposition temperatures increased by 21.6°C and 15.1°C, respectively. Both PCMs maintained good cycling stability over 40 consecutive heating-cooling cycles and were more economical compared to other composite PCMs of Ery.
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