Study on Polyethylene Glycol Acrylate Crosslinked Gels as Phase Change Materials
The cross-linking degree of polyethylene glycol acrylate (PEGA) gel by free-radical solution polymerization was investigated in which PEGA was prepared by chemical modification. The structural morphology, crystal property, thermal property and thermostability were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), polarization microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG), respectively. The results showed that the chain segment of PEG had good activity in lightly cross-linked PEGA gel, the crystallization enthalpy of PEGA gel achieved to 122 J/g, and the duration of its soaking time was about 490 s. Furthermore, chain segment of PEG were bound in PEGA gel, but the crystallization enthalpy of PEGA gel achieved to 64.60 J/g, its soaking time was continued for about 430 s. PEGA gel had a better thermal stability below 300 °C.