Phase Change Materials (PCM) microcapsules with different shell compositions: Preparation, characterization and thermal stability

In this study, phase change materials (Rubitherm® RT 27) microcapsules were successfully obtained by two different methods. The main difference between them remains on the shell composition, as they are composed of different coacervates (Sterilized Gelatine/Arabic Gum for the SG/AG method and Agar-A...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Bayés-García, Laura, Ventolà, L., Cordobilla, R., Benages Vilau, Raúl, Calvet Pallàs, Maria Teresa, Cuevas Diarte, Miguel Ángel
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2010
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/160842
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/160842
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Emmagatzematge d'energia
Nanopartícules
Microencapsulació
Storage of energy
Nanoparticles
Microencapsulation
Descrição
Resumo:In this study, phase change materials (Rubitherm® RT 27) microcapsules were successfully obtained by two different methods. The main difference between them remains on the shell composition, as they are composed of different coacervates (Sterilized Gelatine/Arabic Gum for the SG/AG method and Agar-Agar/Arabic Gum for the AA/AG method). Microcapsules were thermally characterized by thermo-optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Using scanning electron microscopy, their spherical morphology (sphericity factor of 0.94-0.95) and their particle size distribution were determined, obtaining an average diameter of 12 μm for the SG/AG method and lower values for the AA/AG method, where nanocapsules were also observed (average diameter of 4.3 μm for the microcapsules and 104 nm for the nanocapsules). The thermal stability determination was carried out by Thermogravimetric analyses (TG) and the results show a high decomposition temperature, although the process takes places in four steps for the two mentioned methods. Moreover, the microcapsules obtained by the AA/AG method decompose in a more gradual way, as in the TG results a double step, instead of one, is appreciable. On the whole, the prepared microencapsulated PCM are totally capable of developing their role in thermal energy storage.