Synthesis and properties of bulk-biodegradable phase change materials based on polyethylene glycol for thermal energy storage

The bulk-biodegradable solid-solid phase change materials (SSPCMs) based on phase change polyethylene glycol (PEG) were synthesized by solvent-free polyaddition. On the basis of the fact that the water absorption is up to 800 mass% and that the poly(ethylene oxide) molecular chains can be degraded by microorganisms, the bulk-biodegradable mechanism of SSPCMs was put forward and studied. The X-ray diffraction patterns and the polarizing optical microscopy images show the SSPCMs possess the defective crystal and small grain compared with PEG. The differential scanning calorimetry data demonstrate the melting temperature and enthalpy of the synthesized SSPCMs are, respectively, 41 A degrees C and 128 J g(-1). The bulk-biodegradable SSPCMs have the preeminent thermal reliability and the high thermal stability due to the onset thermal degradation temperature above 302 A degrees C, which will give a good insight into bulk-biodegradable PCM system.