Synthesis and characterization of beeswax-tetradecanol-carbon fiber/expanded perlite form-stable composite phase change material for solar energy storage

Abstract In this study, beeswax-tetradecanol/expanded perlite composited with carbon fiber (BW-TD-CF/EP) composite phase change materials (CPCMs) have been prepared via vacuum impregnation method for solar energy utilization. The chemical compatibility, microstructure and thermal properties of CPCMs are characterized and measured, which proves that it is no chemical interaction among the raw materials but physical combination and BW-TD-CF is sufficiently absorbed into the EP porous structure with no leakage even in the molten state. According to differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results, BW-TD-CF/EP composite melts at 34 °C with high enthalpy value of 178.7 kJ/kg, while thermal cycling measurements show that the form-stable composite PCM has adequate stability after being subjected to 200 melting/freezing cycles. Morever, thermal conductivity of BW-TD/EP composite is enhanced from 0.443 Wm −1  K −1 to 1.245 Wm −1  K −1 by adding CF. In result, the form-stable composite PCMs have more appropriate thermal properties and better thermal stability in building for solar energy utilization.