Title:
How to Integrate Phase Change Materials in Construction Materials
Author(s):
Moncef Nehdi and Afshin Marani
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
3/24/2019
Abstract:
Applications of phase change materials (PCMs) have become of great interest in recent years owing to their beneficial effects on the thermal, mechanical and durability properties of construction materials. PCMs can significantly increase the thermal mass and thermal inertia of building materials, thus enhancing their thermal energy storage. The effects of PCMs on cement hydration, and on shrinkage and creep of concrete have further stimulated potential applications. Despite the virtues of PCM applications in building materials, their related drawbacks need concerted research efforts. Among the fundamental problems of PCMs is their risk of leakage in their melted state. Hence, several innovative techniques have been proposed to mitigate this problem. The present study is aimed at investigating potential methods of incorporating PCMs into building materials, including microencapsulated, shape-stabilized phase change materials (SSPCMs), porous inclusion, and macro-encapsulation. Particular focus is on applications in concrete, and materials and methods used for stabilizing PCMs in concrete are critically analyzed.