Preparation and Thermal Properties of Octadecane/xGnP Shape-Stabilized Phase Change Materials to Improve the Heat Storage Performance of Buildings

In this study, a shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) was prepared by octadecane and exfoliated graphite nanoplate (xGnP) in a vacuum, to improve thermal storage performance. The octadecane as an organic phase change material (PCM) is very stable against phase separation of PCM, and has the proper temperature range for thermal comfort in the building; and the xGnP is a porous carbon nano-material. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transformation infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) were used to confirm the chemical and physical stability of the Ocatadecane/xGnP SSPCM. In addition, thermal properties were determined by Deferential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The specific heat of Octadecane/xGnP SSPCM was at . The melting temperature ranges of melting and freezing were found to be and , respectively. At this time, the latent heats of melting and freezing were 110.9 J/g and 104.5 J/g, respectively. The Octadecane was impregnated into xGnP by as much as about 56.0% of the Octadecane/xGnP SSPCM`s mass fraction.