Effective Encapsulation of Paraffin Wax in Carbon Nanotube Agglomerates for a New Shape-Stabilized Phase Change Material with Enhanced Thermal-Storage Capacity and Stability

Abstract

Seeking new applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) will be important since large-scale production has made them available in many applications. Herein, aggregated CNTs (A-CNTs) with interwoven pores were prepared for shape-stabilized phase change materials (PCMs). Owning to the capillary force from the pores, paraffin was readily encapsulated into A-CNTs, and formed a new kind of shape-stabilized PCMs. As-prepared paraffin/A-CNT composites had optimal paraffin loading approaching 88 wt % and offered a storage capacity of 172.14 J g–1 that exceeded the vale based on mixing rule. To confirm the structure effectiveness, A-CNTs were dispersed into random nanotubes; as-formed composite PCMs displayed obviously reduced loading and storage capacities. The enhanced performance was ascribed to the effective encapsulation of paraffin in the interwoven pores of A-CNTs. Moreover, the composites with improved thermal conductivities were attained and displayed enhanced thermal-storage response. The results indicated that as-prepared composites were promising candidates for thermal management systems.

Paraffin Wax [As a Phase Changing Material (PCM)] Based Composites Containing Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Development

“…tals 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW not functionalize, the CNT can still interact with the surrounding matrix and ca the overall thermal stability of the PW/CNT nanocomposite. The residual we °C , after considering the CNT weight loss and considering that the PW tempe completely decomposed at this point, as well as the fact that the CNT showed radation, was close to the initial loadings 0.5, 0.75 and 1 wt.% [24][25][26]. Also Figure 7, occurrences of rapid degradation of all nanocomposites are shown at °C due to the degradation of PW, but each single composite experienced differ loss.…”

Innovations in Smart Packaging Concepts for Food: An Extensive Review

“…On the other hand, paraffins usually have low thermal conductivity and are flammable in nature [133]. These problems can be solved by encapsulating the paraffins in an outer shell of a more stable supporting material, such as carbon nanotubes as investigated by Han et al [141] for thermal management systems. Regarding the use of paraffins for applications in food packaging, some researchers have developed and optimized a smart packaging based on the encapsulation of dodecane into a biopolymeric matrix of zein using the uniaxial and coaxial electrospinning technique.…”

Expanded Graphite/Paraffin/Silicone Rubber as High Temperature Form-stabilized Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage and Thermal Interface Materials

“…The FTIR spectra of the PW, EG/PW and EG/PW/SR composite are displayed in Figure 3. For the spectrum of EG, there was only one broad absorption peak at 3450 cm −1 , which could be attributed to the stretching vibration of the O-H group due to a little H2O absorbed [16]. For the pristine SR, the broad band at 1015-1085 cm −1 and 804 cm −1 belong to the asymmetric stretching of Si-O-Si and symmetric of Si-O-Si, respectively, which represents the characteristic skeleton of silicone rubber [42].…”

“…For its liquid leakage issue, there are two approaches have been employed. One approach is to use porous materials including diatomite [14], EG [15] and carbon nanotube [16] to absorb PW for preventing its leakage. The other is to microencapsulate PW into core/shell structures.…”