Acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate copolymer films containing microencapsulated n-octadecane

Acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate copolymer was synthesized in aqueous solution by Redox. The copolymer was mixed with 10 - 40 wt% of microencapsulated n-octadecane (MicroPCMs) in water. Copolymer films containing MicroPCMs were cast at room temperature in N, N-Dimethylformamide solution. The copolymer of acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate and the copolymer films containing MicroPCMs were characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TG), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), etc. The microcapsules in the films are evenly distributed in the copolymer matrix. The heat-absorbing temperatures and heat-evolving temperatures of the films are almost the same as that of the MicroPCMs, respectively, and fluctuate in a slight range. In addition, the enthalpy efficiency of MicroPCMs rises with the contents of MicroPCMs increasing. The crystallinity of the film increases with the contents of MicroPCMs increasing.