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Thermo-Chemical Characterization of Organic Phase Change Materials (PCMs) Obtained from Lost Wax Casting Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Antonella Sarcinella

    (Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Sandra Cunha

    (Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC), Department of Civil Engineering, Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • José Aguiar

    (Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC), Department of Civil Engineering, Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • Mariaenrica Frigione

    (Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

Abstract

The high global energy demand drives the search for sustainable alternatives for energy production and storage. Among the most effective solutions are phase change materials (PCMs). In particular, organic PCMs offer a high capacity to store and release thermal energy in response to external thermal variations, even over a wide temperature range. They find profitable applications in various sectors, from construction to electronics, offering flexibility and considerable energy storage according to need. In the search for new and effective PCMs, reusing by-products from different industries would offer both economic and environmental benefits. With this goal in mind, several organic PCMs with different characteristics and origins were analyzed in the present study. Two of them were by-products of the lost wax casting industry. In fact, we wanted to verify whether this waste could be employed as an effective, low-cost PCM. For comparison purposes, two commercial PCMs were selected, namely a paraffin and a microencapsulated PCM. Finally, a PCM blend was produced by mixing a commercial PCM and a waxy by-product. The five selected or developed PCMs were subjected to different tests to investigate their chemical composition, thermal characteristics, and thermal stability before and after repeated (i.e., 100) cycles of melting and crystallization processes. The results demonstrated that the durability of the non-commercial PCMs with regard to thermal loads was not inferior, and was in some cases even superior, to commercial PCMs. This study therefore proposes an innovative path to reuse the by-products of different production processes to support the environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonella Sarcinella & Sandra Cunha & José Aguiar & Mariaenrica Frigione, 2024. "Thermo-Chemical Characterization of Organic Phase Change Materials (PCMs) Obtained from Lost Wax Casting Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:16:p:7057-:d:1458126
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yali Guo & Chufan Liang & Hui Liu & Luyuan Gong & Minle Bao & Shengqiang Shen, 2025. "A Review on Phase-Change Materials (PCMs) in Solar-Powered Refrigeration Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-33, March.
    2. Haomin Zhang & Huan Gao & Xiaobo Wang & Huixing Dai, 2024. "Preparation, Characterization and Application of Sustainable Composite Phase Change Material: A Mineral Material Science Comprehensive Experiment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.

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