Form-stable phase change composites with high thermal conductivity and electrical insulation

• Published in: Journal of energy storage 2022-08, Vol.52, p.104836, Article 104836
• Main Authors: Zhang, Huaqing, Zhang, Shixian, Li, Chenjian, Shi, Zhuqun, Yang, Quanling, Wang, Shan, Xiong, Chuanxi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ag-coated hollow glass microspheres; Electrical insulation property; Latent heat values; Phase change composites; Thermal conductivity
• ISSN: 2352-152X; 2352-1538
• DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2022.104836

The commercialization of phase change materials (PCMs) based on paraffin is obstructed by the drawbacks of leakage and low thermal conductivity. Herein, we developed form-stable phase change composites via trapping paraffin into triblock copolymer. The hybrid filler, namely boron nitride and Ag-coated hollow glass microspheres (Ag@HGMs), was introduced to enhance the thermal conductivity of the composites. The latent heat values of composites could be easily tailored in a range of 157.6–192.4 J g−1 by changing the loading of filler. Interestingly, the addition of boron nitride and Ag@HGMs hybrid filler has little impact on electrical insulation property, and displays a synergistic effect on the heat transfer improvement within the composites. The sample BN/Ag@HGMs-4 exhibits excellent latent heat, electrical insulation performance, thermal recycling properties and stability, and the thermal conductivity reaches up to 1.54 W m−1 K−1, which has great potential application in thermal management and heat energy collection system. •The Ag@HGMs were fabricated via an improved electroless silver plating method.•Paraffin/SEBS//boron nitride/Ag@HGMs phase change composites (PCCs) were prepared.•The improvement in thermal conductivity of PCCs was achieved.•The addition of hybrid filler ensures the excellent electrical insulation property.