Three-step method to determine the eutectic composition of binary and ternary mixtures

A three-step method to determine the eutectic composition of a binary or ternary mixture is introduced. The method consists in creating a temperature-composition diagram, validating the predicted eutectic composition via differential scanning calorimetry and subsequent T-History measurements. To test the three-step method, we use two novel eutectic phase change materials based on and respectively and with equilibrium liquidus temperatures of 12.4 and 3.9 respectively with corresponding melting enthalpies of 135 J (237 J ) respectively 133 J (225 J ). We find eutectic compositions of 75/25 mass% for and and 73/27 mass% for and . Considering a temperature range of 15 K around the phase change, a maximum storage capacity of about 172 J (302 J ) respectively 162 J (274 J ) was determined for and respectively and .