International Journal of Materials Science and Applications

2013; 2(6): 168-172

Published online October 20, 2013 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijmsa)
doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130206.11

Development of novel Polymer Phase change material for

heat storage application
Amin Al Robaidi
Materials Department, Faculty of Engineering, Al-Balq'a Applied University, Al-Salt Jordan

Email address:
[email protected]

To cite this article:

Amin Al Robaidi. Development of Novel Polymer Phase Change Material for Heat Storage Application. International Journal of
Materials Science and Applications. Vol. 2, No. 6, 2013, pp. 168-172. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130206.11

Abstract: Polymer Phase change material (PCM's) are materials used to store Energy for a broad range of Applications.
Unlike conventional storage materials, PCM absorbs and release heat at a nearly constant temperature. They store 514 times
more heat per unit volume than sensible storage materials. Increasing demand in solar engineering and spacecraft thermal
control applications; require the continuous development of such materials to maximize its efficiency. One of the options is
to develop energy storage devices, which are as important as developing new sources of energy. In This paper we can show
that combination of low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) paraffin wax and glycerin is an alternative material that can be used as
PCM's. Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC); Melt Flow Index test and FTIR technique were used to characterize the
new developed Compound. Results obtained indicate that a reduction of more than 10C in melting temperature (Tm) of the
pure LDPE-resin was achieved.

Keywords: PCM's, Phase Change Material, Paraffin Wax, LDPE, PP, Heat Storage

weight materials containing under others low density

1. Introduction Polyethylene (LDPE) Polyethylene Oxides, Polyethylene
Energy storage technologies offer exciting new Glycol (PEG) and formulation of their off. Successful
possibilities to increase the efficiency and reliability of development of such material with low melting and freezing
energy markets. Customers and suppliers of heating and point and great latent heat fusion maybe lead to break
cooling systems will benefit from understanding and through in the development of hybrid composites to store
utilizing storage technologies. The latent heat of fusion is and release heat or cooling during such phase conversion.
repeatedly converted between solid and liquid phase to The continuous increase and the rise in fuel prices is the
utilize their latent heat of fusion to absorb; store and release main driving forces behind efforts to more effectively utilize
heat or cooling during such phase conversion[1,2]. . various sources of renewable energy. Development of heat
PCMs have been widely used in latent heat thermal storage materials are part of this effort to save energy.
storage systems for heat pumps, fibers building etc... It Scientists all over the world are eager to develop new
found applications in wall and floor boards to store heat to renewable energy sources [5-8]. One of the options is to
provide a room with comfortable ambient temperature [3]. develop energy storage devices, which are as important as
The storage of energy in suitable forms, which can developing new sources of energy. The storage of energy in
conventionally be converted into the required form, is a suitable forms, which can conventionally be converted into
present day challenge to the technologists. Energy storage the required form, is a present day challenge to the
not only reduces the mismatch between supplies and technologists. Energy storage not only reduces the mismatch
demand but also improves the performance and reliability of between supply and demand but also improves the
energy systems and plays an important role in conserving the performance and reliability of energy systems and plays an
energy [4,5]. There are large numbers of PCMs that melt and important role in conserving the energy [7, 8].
solidify at a wide range of temperatures, making them Developing Polymeric phase change materials for heat
attractive in a number of applications. storage applications is the challenge of today's research and
In this project we have investigated, novel non development. Those technologies is very beneficial for the
commercial PCMs hybrid composite of low molecular humans and as well as for the energy conservation.
 International Journal of Materials Science and Applications 2013; 2(6): 168-172 169

The development of a latent heat thermal energy storage particular field, with the main focus being on the
system hence, involves the understanding of three essential development and assessment of the thermal properties of
subjects: phase change materials, containers materials and various PCMs. Combination of high melting point
heat exchangers. Atul Sharma and co-authors [7, 8] published polyethylene and polypropylene with low melting point
a technical review on thermal energy storage with phase paraffin waxes, Polyethylene glycol, glycerin and
change materials and applications, shown in Figure 1. polyethylene oxide in combination with special nano
Phase change materials (PCM) are Latent heat storage graphene additives and fillers were used in this study.
materials. The thermal energy transfer occurs when a Altering molecular weight of the developed compound has
material changes from solid to liquid, or liquid to solid. This the aim to reduce melt temperature and to increase the
is called a change in state, or Phase. Initially, these specific heat of the material to be developed. Our ideal
solidliquid PCMs perform like conventional storage candidate is a PCM material that will show a eutectic
materials; their temperature rises as they absorb heat. Unlike reaction. In this project, the target was to reduce the melting
conventional (sensible) storage materials, PCM absorbs and point so that we could reach a better heat observing in energy
release heat at a nearly constant temperature. They store saving applications.
514 times more heat per unit volume than sensible storage Solid materials have basically, a higher molecular weight
materials such as water, masonry, or rock. [6] and melting temperature. By heating the material it
A large number of PCMs are known to melt with a heat of transforms to the liquid phase. As the molecular weight for
fusion in any required range. However, for their employment the material decreases, we can get a lower melting
as latent heat storage materials these materials must exhibit temperature. Lowering the melt temperature yields a
certain desirable thermodynamic, kinetic and chemical material that can melt upon absorbing lower amount of heat
properties [9, 10]. Moreover, economic considerations and capacity. This heat will be giving off when the atmosphere
easy availability of these materials has to be kept in mind. cools and we can get a better heat cycle in a shorter heating
In this work we have investigated new PCM's in this time interval.

Figure 1: Technical options available for storing low temperature thermal energy materials as shown by Atul Sharma

Usually melting of a crystalline solid or is associated with

change of phase and involvement of latent heat [10-12].
2. Melting Point or First Order Different polymers have molecular symmetry and/or
Transition structural regularity that when crystallizes; produce a
solid-liquid phase transition, exhibiting a crystalline melting
As mentioned, one of our targets was to decrease the point. The melting is quite sharp high for crystalline
range of melting temperature of the compound so that PCM materials, while in semi crystalline and amorphous materials,
will melt at a low temperatures compared to pure and virgin etc., the phase change takes place over a range of
resin.
170 Amin Al Robaidi: Development of Novel Polymer Phase Change Material for Heat Storage Application

temperature [13-17]. Phase transitions of this kind, wax(Figure 3). An increase in latent heat represented in
particularly in low molecular weight materials, being enthalpy change of more than 100% was achieved (Figure
associated with sharp discontinuities in some primary 4).
physical properties, such as the density or volume, V, [ V = MFI measurements were carried out to investigate the
(G / P)T ] and entropy, S, [S = (G / T)P ] , which change of flow ability of the different ingredient added to
are first derivatives of free energy, are commonly termed polyethylene to determine changes related to change in
first order transitions Molecular weight. Changes in Molecular weight are
related to changes in Melt temperature of the developed
2.1. Latent Heat compound and as well to the specific heat change that taking
Differential Scanning Calorimeter was performed to place during compounding.
measure changes that took place during the compounding Figure 5 and 6 shows MFI changes versus wax
and mixing of the different materials. The thermal behavior concentration at 0% and 5% glycerin constant concentration
of the test samples was recorded to analyze the influence of whereby the wax concentration was varied. As expected an
applied ingredient on latent heat storage, using a Netsch increase of melt flow index was obvious due to the flow
instrument type DSC 2920 piloted on PC with TA ability of the wax. It's very obvious that adding of low
Advantage control software. The measurements were molecular weight paraffin wax was acting as a lubricant to
performed by using constant heating rate of 10 C/min. The the resin increasing its flow behavior exponentially from 4
values of latent heat were found equal within the to approximately 30 [email protected] and 160C for 10 minutes.
measurement accuracy for both pure paraffin micro particles In our selected formulation Glycerin could act in this since.
and polymer. The value of the latent heat was measured and Adding Glycerin combination (2) was unexpected and
found equal to approximately 116 J/g. surprising. Figure 7 shows the result for the formulation
contains glycerin. The results indicate less change in MFI.
We were not able to measure the MFI for formulations
3. Experimental containing high percentage of glycerin. This indication
shows that a kind of crosslinking of polymer chains was
Materials used throughout this investigation were LDPE taking place. Although DSC results confirm an increase in
and PP as a matrix resin. Blends containing as a single enthalpy of compound containing glycerin compared to
ingredient or multiple ingredient were paraffin wax; virgin resin, the unexpected behavior in MFI leads to the
Polyethylene- glycol; Glycerol; stearic acid and conclusion not to use Glycerin any more in the development
polyethylene oxide. As nano filler graphene was used. A of polymeric phase change materials.
Brabender plastograph was utilize to prepare the different
concentration listed in table 1 and 2 under constant Table 1: Formulation used
processing conditions (160C. and 5 minute mixing time). Sample Paraffin Glyceri
Sheets of 2mm were pressed using carver hot press. LLPDE Tm(C)
number WAX n
1 100% - - 124.4
4. Results and Discussions 2 90% 10% - 123.5

Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) is an instrument 3 75% 25% - 122

used frequently by our group to measure the thermal 4 50% 50% - 123.8
characteristics of the phase change materials (PCM). For
every sample, heat flows in mW versus temperature were 5 85% 10% 5% 132.4
determined. A sample of PCM of known mass is placed in a 6 65% 30% 5% 126.5
closed pan with a volume of 50L. Latent heat, Enthalpy and
7 50% 45% 5% 125.5
melting point were measured. Figure 2 shows the DSC plots
for the sample listed in table 1. It could be seen that some 8 90% - 10% 134.6
curves indicates two peaks, thats belong to the polymer 9 85% - 15% 134.7
resin and the wax. Change in melting point versus wax
concentration and enthalpy changes versus glycerin 10 75% - 25% 134.2
concentration are shown in Figure 3-6. From the plots it's
obvious that a decrease in melting temperature of more than
15 C was achieved for the formulation containing 40%
 International Journal of Materials Science and Applications 2013; 2(6): 168-172 171

Figure 2: DSC plots measured using Netsch DSC 2920 for specimen listed in table 1

Figure 3: The figure indicates changes in Tm versus wax concentration at Figure 5: The figure indicates relation between enthalpy and glycerin
const. glycerin Concentration Concentration

Figure 4: The figure indicates changes in enthalpy versus glycerin Figure 6: The figure indicates relation between Melt index wax
concentration Concentration
172 Amin Al Robaidi: Development of Novel Polymer Phase Change Material for Heat Storage Application

[4] Bahram Moshfegh; World Renewable Energy Congress

Linkping Electronic Conference Proceedings, 57 Sweden
2011
[5] P. Zhang and L. Xia, R.Z. Wang: The Thermal Response of
Heat Storage System With Paraffin and Paraffin/Expanded
Graphite Composite for Hot Water Supply; World Renewable
Energy Congress Linkping Electronic Conference
Proceedings, 57 Sweden 2011
[6] Murat M. Kenisarina,, Kamola M. Kenisarina; Form-stable
phase change materials for thermal energy storage;
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews; 2012
[7] Atul sharma ,V.v. Tyagi, C.r. Chen , D. Buddhi - A review on
phase change energy storage: Effect of thermo physical
Figure 7: Changes in MFI versus glycerin concentration. properties of heat exchanger material on the performance of
latent heat storage system using an enthalpy method;
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 13 (2009)
5. Conclusion 318345
[8] Atul Sharma, V.V. Tyagi, C.R. Chen, D. Buddhi, Review on
In this paper an attempt was made to develop polymer
thermal energy storage with phase change materials and
based phase change materials on the basis of polyolefin's applications; Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
blends. In such a blend small molecular weight species DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2007.10.005
were dispersed in high molecular weight materials to
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particles;submitted to JJMIE
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crosslinking agent; so that MFI was reduced significantly [11] Project Report. Energy conservation through thermal energy
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[12] Khartchenko NV. Advanced energy systems. Berlin: Institute
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