Phase change materials thermal properties

Perhaps the most innovative and interesting product with improved thermal insulation properties is fabric made of hollow fibers with a gas and solvent inside the fibers. A decrease in temperature converts the solvent into a solid phase, thus liberating a gas and increasing the thermal resistance of the fabric (ill). Although the solvents are exotic and the durability of such fabrics has not been assessed, further studies employing phase-change materials offer great potential. 

Zhang, G.H. Bon, S.A.F Zhao, C.Y. Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of novel nano-encapsulated phase change materials for thermal energy storage. Sol Energ 86 (2012) 1149-1154. 

Alkan, C. San, A. Karaipekli, A. Uzun, O. Preparation, characterization, and thermal properties of microencapsulated phase change material for thermal energy storage. Sol Energ Mat Sol C 93 (2009) 143-147. 

Ma, Y Chu. X. Tang, G. Yao, Y. Synthesis and thermal properties of acrylate-based polymer shell microcapsules with binary core as phase change materials. Mater Lett 91 (2013) 133—135. 

Fang, G. Li, H. Liu, X. Preparation and properties of lauric acid/silicon dioxide composites as form-stable phase change materials for thermal energy storage. Mater Chem Phys 122 (2010) 533-536. 

Cai, Y Wei, Q. Huang, R Lin, S. Chen, F. Gao, W. Thermal stability, latent heat and flame retardant properties of the thermal energy storage phase change materials based on paraffin/high density polyethylene composites. Renew Energ 34 (2009) 2117-2123. 

For sports that have intermittent exposure to heat and cold, thermal buffers may be appropriate (Shim et ah, 2001). Some ski jackets are equipped with phase change materials that absorb body heat when liquidized and transfer heat to the body when the materials become solid. Although the effects are currently minimal in magnitude for a certain weight, new materials may have better cooling properties (Mondal, 2008). 

There have also been efforts to develop products with adaptive properties— namely, materials that change their porosity or thermal insulation in dependence of external stimuli like temperature or humidity (Crespy and Rossi, 2007 Hu et al., 2012). Materials with heat absorbing capacities like phase change materials can be found for niche applications (Xu et al., 2013 Yoo et al., 2013), but their effect seems to be too limited to get large acceptance by the consumers. Materials with very low thermal conductivity ( superinsulators ) have been used for several years in the construction... 

Improving thermal energy storage properties, e.g. by implementing phase change materials (PCM)... 

Chen C., Wang L. and Huang Y. (2008), Morphology and thermal properties of electrospun fatty acids/polyethylene terephthalate composite fibers as novel form-stable phase change materials. Solar Energy Materials Solar Cells, 92 pp. 1382-1387. 

Erkan, G. (2004), Enhancing the thermal properties of textiles with phase change materials. Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, 8, 57-64. 

Sari A (2004) Form-stable paraffin/high density polyethylene composites as solid-liquid phase change material for thermal energy storage preparation and thermal properties. Energy Convers Manage 45(13-14) 2033-2042. doi 10.1016/j.enconman.2003.10.022... 

AUcan C, San A, Karaipekli A. Preparation, thermal properties and thermal reliability of microencapsulated -eicosane as novel phase change material for thermal energy storage. Energy Convers Manag 2011 52(l) 687-92. 

Chen Z-H, Yu F, Zeng X-R, Zhang Z-G. Preparation, characterization and thermal properties of nanocapsules containing phase change material -dodecanol by miniemulsion polymerization with polymerizable emulsifier. Appl Energy 2012 91(1) 7-12. 

Tahan Latibari S, Mehrali M, Mehrali M, Indra Mahlia TM, Cornells Metselaar HS. Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of nanoencapsulated phase change materials via sol-gel method. Energy 2013 61 664-72. 

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