Structural morphology and thermal performance of composite phase change materials consisting of capric acid series fatty acid eutectics and electrospun polyamide6 nanofibers for thermal energy storage

In this study, the capric acid (CA) was chosen and CA series fatty acid eutectics (e.g., capric acid-lauric acid, capric acid-palmitic acid, and capric acid-stearic acid) was prepared; thereafter, the composite phase change materials (PCMs) consisting of CA series fatty acid eutectics and electrospun polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibers were prepared by physical absorption. The structural morphologies and thermal energy storage properties of the composite PCMs were characterized by SEM and DSC, respectively. The SEM results indicated that the CA series fatty acid eutectics confined into porous PA6 nanofiber membranes. The DSC results indicated that the phase transition temperatures of CA series fatty acid eutectics were lower than those of CA; the enthalpies of melting and crystallization of the composite PCMs were slightly decreased. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.