Fabrication and Properties of Microencapsulated-Paraffin/Gypsum-Matrix Building Materials for Thermal Energy Storage
Microencapsulated phase change materials (microPCMs) contain paraffin was fabricated by in-situ polymerization using methanol-modified melamine-formaldehyde (MMF) as shell material. The shell of microPCMs was sooth and compact with global shape, its thickness was not greatly affected by the core/shell ratio and emulsion stirring rate. More shell material in microPCMs could enhance the thermal stability and provide higher compact condition for core material. After a 100-times thermal cycling treatment, the microPCMs contain paraffin also nearly did not change the phase change behaviors of PCM. With the increasing of weight contents of microPCMs in gypsum board, the thermal conductivity (λ) values of composites had decreased. The simulation of temperature tests proved that the microPCMs/gypsum composite could store the time-dependent and intermittent solar energy, which did not necessarily meet the energy needs for space heating at all times.