Blending two gelators
with different chemistries (12-hydroxystearic
acid and a bis-urea derivative, Millithix MT-800) was used to impart
shape stability to CrodaTherm 29, a bio-based phase change material
(PCM), melting/crystallizing at near-ambient temperature. The gelators
immobilized the PCM by forming an interpenetrating fibrillar network.
15 wt % concentration of the gelators was found to be effective in
preventing liquid PCM leakage. In order to improve the mechanical
properties and thermal conductivity (TC) of the PCM, gelation of suspensions
of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets
(GnPs) in a molten material was done at concentrations exceeding their
percolation thresholds. Compared to pristine PCM, the gelled PCM containing
3.0 wt % of GnPs demonstrated a shorter crystallization time, ∼1.5-fold
increase in strength, improved stability, and ∼65% increase
in TC. At the same time, PCM filled with up to 0.6 wt % of MWCNTs
had diminished strength and increased leakage with a slight TC improvement.
Gelation of PCM did not significantly alter its thermal behavior,
but it did change its crystalline morphology. The developed shape-stable
PCMs may have a wide range of applications in ambient temperature
solar-thermal installations, for example, temperature-controlled greenhouses,
net zero-energy buildings, and water heaters.