Shape-stabilized phase change materials with high thermal conductivity based on paraffin/graphene oxide composite

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2013-03, Vol.67, p.275-282
• Main Authors: Mehrali, Mohammad, Latibari, Sara Tahan, Mehrali, Mehdi, Metselaar, Hendrik Simon Cornelis, Silakhori, Mahyar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Corrosion resistance; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Graphene; Heat transfer; Melting; Oxides; Paraffins; Sustainable energy; Thermal conductivity; Thermal energy storage; Thermal properties; Transport and storage of energy
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2012.11.023

► The composite PCM was prepared with impregnation method. ► Shapes stabilized phase change materialmade with paraffin and GO composite. ► Determine effects of GO composite on shape stabilized PCM properties. ► The composite PCM has good thermal stability and form-stability. ► The composite PCM has much higher thermal conductivity than that of paraffin. This paper mainly focuses on the preparation, characterization, thermal properties and thermal stability and reliability of new form-stable composite phase change materials (PCMs) prepared by vacuum impregnation of paraffin within graphene oxide (GO) sheets. SEM and FT-IR techniques and TGA and DSC analysis are used for characterization of material and thermal properties. The composite PCM contained 48.3wt.% of paraffin without leakage of melted PCM and therefore this composite found to be a form-stable composite PCM. SEM results indicate that the paraffin bounded into the pores of GO. FT-IR analysis showed there was no chemical reaction between paraffin and GO. Temperatures of melting and freezing and latent heats of the composite were 53.57 and 44.59°C and 63.76 and 64.89kJ/kg, respectively. Thermal cycling tests were done by 2500 melting/freezing cycling for verification of the form-stable composite PCM in terms of thermal reliability and chemical stability. Thermal conductivity of the composite PCM was highly improved from 0.305 to 0.985 (W/mk). As a result, the prepared paraffin/GO composite is appropriate PCM for thermal energy storage applications because of their acceptable thermal properties, good thermal reliability, chemical stability and thermal conductivities.