Phase change material microcapsules with DOPO/Cu modified halloysite nanotubes for thermal controlling of buildings: Thermophysical properties, flame retardant performance and thermal comfort levels

• Published in: International journal of heat and mass transfer 2023-06, Vol.207, p.124045, Article 124045
• Main Authors: Kang, Moyun, Liu, Yuqi, Liang, Chenchen, Lin, Wei, Wang, Changxiang, Li, Chaojie, Zhang, Feng, Cheng, Jiaji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DOPO; Microcapsule; Phase change material; Thermal properties
• ISSN: 0017-9310; 1879-2189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2023.124045

•The DOPO and Cu nanoparticles modified HNTs (c-HNTs).•The c-HNTs doped phase change material microcapsule (c-MPCM) is prepared.•The c-MPCM improvs the insulation temperature regulation.•The c-MPCM reduced the fire risk of composite. Although the microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) with organic core-shell structure is an effective means to encapsulate phase change material (PCM), it has the defects of low thermal conductivity and flammability. Herein, the flame retardant halloysite nanotubes (c-HNTs) doped by 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and Cu nanoparticles were successfully inserted in the MPCM to form a highway to heat transfer. The related examination and surface morphology showed that the DOPO structure anchored by Cu nanoparticles was grafted on the surface of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and the c-HNTs were successfully embedded in MPCM. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) proved that c-MPCM has the best thermal stability when compared to other samples, which is caused by the presence of c-HNTs. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test indicated that MPCM delays the heat transfer to the capric acid while the HNTs improve this situation as thermal conduction channels. Then, the MPCM samples were added to the epoxy resin (EP). In the cone calorimetry test, we found that the heat and smoke release rate of EP composite is obviously reduced. Finally, the temperature control ability test of MPCM demonstrated that the EP composite with c-HNTs has the minimum temperature fluctuation. These properties will greatly stimulate the application of c-MPCM in insulation materials.