Bio-inspired phase change materials designed for high specific heat of solid phase

• Published in: Thermochimica acta 2014-09, Vol.591, p.61-67
• Main Authors: Lee, Tu, Lee, Yun, Lee, Hung Lin, Syue, Yu Ren, Chiu, Yu Hsiu, Liou, Jiun-You, Sun, Ya-Sen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Phase change material; Small-angle X-ray scattering; Specific heat; Temperature-history method
• ISSN: 0040-6031; 1872-762X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tca.2014.06.009

[Display omitted] Temperature-history curve of blend A during cooling. •Lipid blends of ceramide, cholesterol and palmitic acid are studied.•The nanostructures of lipid blends are characterized.•The values of the specific heat of solid state of lipid blends are high. Two lipid blends with molar ratios of 2:1:1 and 1.13:1:1 of ceramide (type IV):cholesterol:palmitic acid, namely blends A and B, are prepared, respectively, based on stratum corneum of human. The phase behaviors and nanostructures of those blends have been fully characterized by low-temperature differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray scattering. The large-scale thermal properties of them have been measured by temperature-history method as well. The heat capacity of solid phase for blend A of 3.23±0.14J/g°C is higher than the value for common phase change materials (PCMs), such as lauric acid, stearic acid, polyethylene glycol 900, and paraffin wax. The lipid ratio in blend B is also changed to obtain an even higher heat capacity of solid phase of 3.69±0.17J/g°C. Therefore, we propose to concoct new lipid blends for the enhancement of heat capacity of solid phase values in the immediate future.