Preparation and characterization of bio-derivative composite phase change materials: palmitic acid/SiO 2 nanoparticle loaded terpene-based polymeric microbeads

Abstract Phase change materials (PCMs) are materials that can store and release energy as latent heat depending on temperature changes, playing an important role in energy efficient applications with these properties. In this work, the employability of terpene-based polymers for shape stabilization of PCMs is investigated and PCM-integrated polymeric microbeads were produced to offer environmentally friendly energy storage solutions. The SiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) decorated terpene-based polymeric microbeads were synthesized via suspension copolymerization and used as supporting matrices for achievement of palmitic acid (PA) based shape-stabilized composite PCMs. As a result of the solvent assisted vacuum impregnation of—PA into microbeads, composite PCMs with 2 different NP ratios (3% and 5%) were obtained (MicB3 and MicB5). The chemical structure, surface morphology, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area and thermal properties of terpene-based polymeric microbeads and composite PCMs were investigated. 3% SiO 2 NP loaded MicB3 matrix showed higher BET specific surface area of 3.13 m 2 g −1 and the MicB3/PA composite prepared with this matrix was found to have higher energy storage capacity. The latent heats of produced composite PCMs were found to be 133.31 J g −1 and 84.89 J g −1 for MicB3/PA and MicB5/PA, respectively. The produced composite PCMs with their relatively high latent heats and favorable phase change temperatures (over 50 °C) can be considered as potential candidates for applications such as passive solar heating, domestic water heating and building heating applications.