Preparation and thermal energy properties of paraffin/halloysite nanotube composite as form-stable phase change material

Phase change materials (PCMs) have attracted extensively interests in solar storage. In the study, we prepared a new kind of composite PCM by impregnating paraffin (P) into halloysite nanotube. The as-prepared composite PCM was characterized by TEM, FT-IR and DSC analysis techniques. The composite can absorb paraffin as high as 65 wt.% and maintain its original shape perfectly without any paraffin leakage after subjected to 50 melt freeze cycles. The melting temperature and latent heat of composite (P/HNT: 65/35 wt.%) were determined as 57.16 degrees C and 106.54 J/g by DSC. Graphite was added into the P/HNT composite to improve thermal storage performance, and the melting time and freezing time of the composite were reduced by 60.78% and 71.52% compared with the composite without graphite, respectively. Due to its high adsorption capacity, high heat storage capacity, good thermal stability and simple preparation method, the composite can be considered as cost-effective latent heat storage material for practical application. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.