Electrospun polyethylene glycol/cellulose acetate phase change fibers with core–sheath structure for thermal energy storage

The ultrafine phase change fibers (PCFs) with core–sheath structure based on polyethylene glycol/cellulose acetate (PEG/CA) blends were fabricated successfully via coaxial electrospinning for thermal energy storage. SEM and TEM images show that cylindrical and smooth phase change fibers are obtained and PEG as a phase change ingredient is encapsulated completely by CA sheath. The morphology of the composite fibers before and after thermal treatment indicates that the prepared fibers are form stable phase change materials (PCMs). The results from DSC demonstrate that the composite fibers impart balanced and reversible phase change behaviors, and phase transition enthalpies of the composite fibers increase with the increasing of PEG content in the fibers, while the phase transition temperatures of the fibers are similar with those of pure PEG. The stress–strain curves show that the ultimate strength and ultimate strain of the composite fibers are lower than those of CA fibers, and they decrease with the increase of PEG content. The PEG/CA composite fibers have extensive applications as a smart material for thermal energy storage and temperature regulation.

[1]  Changzhong Chen,et al.  Synthesis of novel solid–liquid phase change materials and electrospinning of ultrafine phase change fibers , 2012 .

[2]  Changzhong Chen,et al.  Morphology and thermal properties of electrospun fatty acids/polyethylene terephthalate composite fibers as novel form-stable phase change materials , 2008 .

[3]  Yanlin Song,et al.  Multicomponent phase change microfibers prepared by temperature control multifluidic electrospinning. , 2010, Macromolecular rapid communications.

[4]  X. Tao,et al.  Structures and Properties of Wet Spun Thermo-Regulated Polyacrylonitrile-Vinylidene Chloride Fibers , 2006 .

[5]  Younan Xia,et al.  Melt coaxial electrospinning: a versatile method for the encapsulation of solid materials and fabrication of phase change nanofibers. , 2006, Nano letters.

[6]  Younsook Shin,et al.  Development of thermoregulating textile materials with microencapsulated phase change materials (PCM). II. Preparation and application of PCM microcapsules , 2005 .

[7]  H. Craighead,et al.  Formation and properties of nylon-6 and nylon-6/montmorillonite composite nanofibers , 2006 .

[8]  Yong Zhao,et al.  Electrospun ultrafine composite fibers consisting of lauric acid and polyamide 6 as form-stable phase change materials for storage and retrieval of solar thermal energy , 2012 .

[9]  Andreas Greiner,et al.  Electrospinning: a fascinating method for the preparation of ultrathin fibers. , 2007, Angewandte Chemie.

[10]  Tyrone L. Vigo,et al.  Temperature Adaptable Hollow Fibers Containing Polyethylene Glycols , 1983 .

[11]  E. Onder,et al.  Organic phase change materials and their textile applications: An overview , 2012 .

[12]  Changzhong Chen,et al.  Electrospun phase change fibers based on polyethylene glycol/cellulose acetate blends , 2011 .

[13]  S. Kundu,et al.  Electrospinning: a fascinating fiber fabrication technique. , 2010, Biotechnology advances.

[14]  X. X. Zhang,et al.  Energy storage polymer/MicroPCMs blended chips and thermo-regulated fibers , 2005 .

[15]  Yi Li,et al.  Assessing the performance of textiles incorporating phase change materials , 2004 .