Improvement of thermal conductivity of paraffin by adding expanded graphite

Abstract

This paper investigated the use of graphite with different configuration designs to improve the thermal energy storage of phase change material systems. Two types of graphite have been combined with paraffin in order to improve thermal conductivity of phase change material: synthetic graphite (Timrex SFG75) and graphite waste obtained from damaged tubular graphite heat exchangers. Paraffin/graphite phase change material composites have been prepared by the cold uniaxial compression technique. Their morphologies have been observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscope, and their thermophysical properties have been estimated using new experimental tools. Results show that the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity can be accurately measured by these new experimental tools. Moreover, results highlight the fact that the phase change material thermal properties are greatly influenced by the graphite addition.

Optimization and Prediction of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Graphene/LLDPE Nanocomposites by Using Artificial Neural Networks

“…The various forms and allotropes of carbon, such as carbon nanotubes [1], carbon fibre [2], graphite [3,4], graphene [5], and graphene oxide, have attracted many researchers due to their exceptional physical and mechanical properties, such as high electrical conductivity and good thermal stability. This combination of superior properties with the simplicity of production of graphene-based materials is important in different applications such as electronic industry and sensors [6].…”

Analysis of thermo-elastic and physical properties of recycled 2017 Aluminium Alloy/Gp composites: thermal management application

“…Figure 1(c) displays a typical scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the obtained 2017 Aluminium alloy after recycling and milling step [32] used in this work with an average particle size of 90 μm. Timrex (SFG75) powder supplied by Timcal Graphite & Carbon (figure 1(d)) with spherical shape and an average size of 75 μm [33,34] were used as the reinforcement component to produce composites. The 2017 Aluminium alloy powder and Graphite powder were mixed using planetary ball mill for 30 min.…”

“…The volume percent of porosity was measured by comparing the theoretical density determined by rule of mixture and sintered densities (equation (2)): where P is the porosity and r th is the theoretical density of composite. The theoretical densities of the composites were determined using the rule of mixture (equation (3)), in which the theoretical densities of 2017 Aluminium alloy and graphite were 2790 Kg m −3 [35] and 2240 Kg m −3 [33,34], respectively.…”

Phase Change Materials for Textile Application

“…Much research has attempted to compensate for the poor thermal conductivity of paraffin by adding fins or expanded metal to the material or by dispersing it in a porous conductive material such as natural expanded graphite [26]. This method makes it possible to obtain composites with high thermal conductivity, high paraffin mass content (65-95%) trapped by capillarity [27].…”