Natural aging of shape stabilized phase change materials based on paraffin wax

Abstract

Natural aging of shape-stabilized phase change materials containing linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), paraffin wax and expanded graphite (EG) in Qatari climate has been studied. It was found that expanded graphite significantly improved the performance of prepared SSPCMs in multiple ways. Firstly, EG suppressed leakage of paraffin wax from the compact shape of SSPCMs. The addition of 15 wt% of EG to shape stabilized phase change materials (SSPCMs) containing 50 wt% of wax caused a decreasing in the leakage of wax by 50% over 210 days of natural aging. Secondly, ?expanded graphite enhanced the photochemical stability of the blends; this was confirmed by FTIR analysis, where carbonyl index decreased with EG content. 1 2017 Elsevier Ltd