Flexible phase change materials with enhanced tensile strength, thermal conductivity and photo-thermal performance

Phase change materials are most potential candidates for storing solar thermal energy with large enthalpy and high exergy. However, the intrinsic drawback such as poor optical absorptive capacity, low thermal conductivity and poor tensile strength restrict the thermal efficiency of phase change mate...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Solar energy materials and solar cells 2021-01, Vol.219, p.110728, Article 110728
Main Authors: Cai, Zhuodi, Liu, Jian, Zhou, Yanxue, Dai, Liling, Wang, Huixin, Liao, Chengcheng, Zou, Xuelin, Chen, Yanfeng, Xu, Yongjun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorptivity
Elastomers
Elongation
Energy
Enthalpy
Exergy
Extrusion
Graphite
Heat conductivity
Heat transfer
Mechanical property
Paraffin
Paraffins
Phase change materials
Photo-thermal performance
Solar energy
Solar heating
Solar thermal systems
Tensile strength
Thermal conductivity
Thermal energy
Thermodynamic efficiency
Thermodynamics
Thermoplastic elastomer
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Phase change materials are most potential candidates for storing solar thermal energy with large enthalpy and high exergy. However, the intrinsic drawback such as poor optical absorptive capacity, low thermal conductivity and poor tensile strength restrict the thermal efficiency of phase change materials. To overcome drawback, expanded graphite is used to encapsulate the paraffin then thermoplastic elastomer is used to mix with the powders with twin-screw extrusion technology. The highly flexible phase change composite shows a melting enthalpy of 124.6 J g−1 and a thermal conductivity of 2.2 W m−1 K−1 with 70% of expanded graphite/paraffin. The tensile strength of 2.1 MPa and a breaking elongation of 220%. This flexible phase change composite demonstrates good photo-thermal energy charging/discharging property and shows much larger exergy than traditional fluids in the solar thermal energy systems. •①A flexible phase change composite with enthalpy of 124.6 J g−1 and a thermal conductivity of 2.2 W m−1 K−1.•②The phase change composite has tensile strength of 2.1 MPa and a breaking elongation of 220%.•③This phase change composite shows good photo-thermal energy charging/discharging property and large exergy.
ISSN:0927-0248
1879-3398
DOI:10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110728