Designing behenic acid microcapsules as novel phase change material for thermal energy storage applications at medium temperature

Abstract

Summary Fatty acids are bio‐based materials that can be used as phase change materials (PCMs). Microencapsulation of low carbon number fatty acids for mainly building applications have been realized in previous studies. In this study, behenic acid (BA), a fatty acid with medium melting range (65°C‐85°C), has been microencapsulated for the first time. PMMA and its three copolymers were used as shell material of these novel encapsulated PCMs prepared by emulsion polymerization technique. The influences of using different comonomers in shell materials on the thermal, morphological, and chemical properties were investigated. Melting phase change temperature ranges were found as 65°C to 85°C for all capsule candidates. Capsules had uniform spherical geometry with size ranges under 500 nm. The capsules are suggested as novel PCM candidates in this temperature range that has potential applications in industrial waste heat, electronics, solar residential heating, lithium‐ion batteries, and automotive application.

Cross-linking of double oil-in-water-in-oil emulsions: A new way for fragrance encapsulation with tunable sustained release

“…Recent silica porous beads have been used for cascade enzymatic reactions [16]. For building applications, microcapsules containing phase change materials [17,18] are also developed.…”

Microcapsules composed of stearic acid core and polyethylene glycol‐based shell as a microcapsule phase change material

“…Interfacial polymerization is an effective method to fabricate microcapsules enwrapping oil-soluble core materials in oil-in-water emulsions. 35,36,38,39 In this article, the morphology of the microcapsules composed of SA core and the PEG-based shell was detected by a SEM, which is shown in Figure 2A. As demonstrated in Figure 2A, the microcapsules are all spheres, which avoid the leakage of SA even if the environment temperature is higher than the phase transition temperature.…”

“…Interfacial polymerization is an effective method to fabricate microcapsules enwrapping oil‐soluble core materials in oil‐in‐water emulsions 35,36 , 38,39 . In this article, the morphology of the microcapsules composed of SA core and the PEG‐based shell was detected by a SEM, which is shown in Figure 2A.…”

“…This PCM has one temperature range in the melting/solidification process, which is narrower than that of behenic acid. 36 Wang et al prepared a microcapsule PCM encapsulating capric acid by using melamine urea formaldehyde as the shell material. This PCM has only one temperature range in the phase transition process that is similar with that of capric acid.…”

“…For instance, Şahan and Paksoy designed behenic acid microcapsules as a novel PCM using polymethyl methacrylate and its copolymers as the shell material. This PCM has one temperature range in the melting/solidification process, which is narrower than that of behenic acid 36 . Wang et al prepared a microcapsule PCM encapsulating capric acid by using melamine urea formaldehyde as the shell material.…”