Thermal stability of composite phase change material microcapsules incorporated with silver nano-particles

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 48; no. 11; pp. 3317 - 3323
• Main Authors: Song, Qingwen, Li, Yi, Xing, Jianwei, Hu, J.Y., Marcus, Yuen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 21-05-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Microcapsules; Phase change material; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Thermal stability; Microcapsules; Thermal stability; Phase change material; Microcapsule; Bromocarbon; Surface analysis; Experimental study; Metal particle; Aminoplast; Silver; Morphology; Nanocomposite; PCM material
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2007.03.045

This paper reports a study on the thermal stability of phase change material microcapsules that are incorporated with silver nano-particles (Ag-NPs). The novel microcapsules were fabricated by the technique of in situ polymerization, with aminoplast as the wall and phase change material bromo-hexadecane (PCM BrC16) as the core. Thermal gravimetry (TG) analysis was applied to measure the thermal stability of these microcapsules and surface morphology of the microcapsules was observed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after an application of curing treatment at 130
°C. Comparing with conventional phase change material microcapsules (PCMMs), nano-composite phase change material microcapsules (NCPCMMs) have higher thermal stability. This can be attributed to nano-composite structure of the microcapsules, in which metal Ag-NPs distributed on the surface to increase wall toughness and strength. The possible reinforcement mechanisms of the nano-composite structure are explored.