Phase Change Materials for Energy Storage Applications from PEG and PBAT with AlN and CNT as Fillers

Abstract

This study investigates the fabrication of phase change material–poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PCM–PBAT) composites through melt blending techniques, focusing on the impact of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) treatment on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) treatment on aluminum nitride (AlN) particles. Analysis of mechanical properties highlights an enhancement in tensile strength with APTES-treated AlN particles, while dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) reveals an increase in stiffness. Laser flash analysis (LFA) investigation demonstrates a significant increase, up to 325%, in thermal conductivity compared to PCM–PBAT composites without filler. Moreover, the fabricated composites exhibit enhanced latent heat storage capabilities, with the PCM–PBAT composite containing 30% filler (20PCM–PBAT–30F) showing promising latent heat values. These findings underscore the efficacy of selecting an appropriate PCM–PBAT ratio and surface functionalization of the filler particles in enhancing the latent heat storage and thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer composites, suggesting their potential application across diverse fields.