Hexagonal boron nitride-loaded macroporous foams as frameworks for development of n-eicosane-based composite phase-change materials

• Published in: Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry 2023-07, Vol.148 (13), p.5943-5956
• Main Authors: Mert, Hatice Hande, Simsek, Esra Bilgin, Balta, Zeynep, Mert, Mehmet Selçuk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Boron nitride; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electric properties; Emulsion polymerization; Energy storage; Foams; Force and energy; Heat storage; Inorganic Chemistry; Latent heat; Measurement Science and Instrumentation; Melt temperature; Performance tests; Phase change materials; Phase transitions; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Polymerization; Porous materials; Synthesis; Thermal conductivity; Thermal energy; Thermal management; Thermodynamic properties; Transition temperature
• ISSN: 1388-6150; 1588-2926
• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-023-12158-5

The development of a new composite phase change material (PCM) was accomplished by using n-eicosane, which was belonging to the paraffins. For this goal, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)-loaded macroporous foams were synthesized by emulsion-templating method. The resulting foams were used as supporting materials in the preparation of n-eicosane-based composite PCMs that have improved thermal conduction property. The h-BN was synthesized as additive with the aim of thermal conductivity enhancement, and the porous supporting materials were obtained by polymerization of high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) at various loadings of h-BN nano-fillers (0, 1, 5 and 9 mass/%). The h-BN, h-BN-loaded macroporous polyHIPE foams (MPFs) and composite PCMs were fully characterized by SEM, BET, FT-IR, TG and DSC analysis techniques. Furthermore, leak-proof and phase-change properties of composite PCMs were tested in addition to investigation of thermal behavior with a thermal performance test. The highest thermal energy storage (TES) capacity among the produced n-eicosane-based h-BN-loaded MPFs was belonging to 1 mass/% h-BN-loaded composite PCM having 79 J g −1 latent heat of melting and 38.79 °C melting temperature; the composite was also comprised of the supporting matrix with highest specific surface area. Based on the results, thermally conduction enhanced n-eicosane-based composite PCMs are promising materials for thermal management applications, such as electronic package and electronics cooling, with thanks to high latent heats (range between 72.2 and 79 J g −1 ) and convenient phase transition temperature as well as anti-leakage property.