STUDY THE THERMAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITE PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS (PCMS) PRODUCED BY VACUUM IMPREGNATION PROCESS

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) are the high latent heat materials can be used in building materials for energy conservation purpose. Paraffin has been used as PCMs absorbed into the pore of fly ash as composite PCMs and mixed into the buildings material. Liquid paraffin will be impregnated into the pore of fly ash by vacuum capillary force to form composite PCMs. Vacuum impregnation pressures, vacuum times, impregnation times of liquid paraffin in fly ash pores and temperatures for melting the solid paraffin into the liquid form are all effect on the thermal properties of paraffin/fly ash composite PCMs. Paraffin or PCMs impregnation are also relate to the physical property including the fractal dimensions of the pores of composite PCMs. Composite PCMs fractal dimensions have the same trend of thermal properties.