Thermally recyclable polyester-based phase change materials networks with high latent heat and network self-stability even at high temperature

Abstract The polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based solid-solid phase change materials networks (PCMNs) were synthesized via esterification reactions between pyromellitic dianhydride-derived multi-carboxyl PEG and trimethylolpropane tris(1-aziridine propionate) in the presence of transesterification catalyst, endowing PCMNs with recyclability, high latent heat and network self-stability even at high temperature in a synergistic approach. The latent heat of the PCMNs increased from 93.5 J/g to 137.3 J/g with increasing the encapsulation content from 87.9% to 93.5%. The recycling of PCMNs was realized at high temperature (140°C) under a high pressure (15 MPa) and the network self-stability of PCMNs was verified at high temperature (140°C) under a dead load due to quasi-balanced conformation. The integrated comprehensive performance of PCMNs, including phase change, mechanical and recycling properties, were necessary for the practical applications.