Meso-structural degradation and mechanical property evolution in cementitious mortars containing microencapsulated phase change materials under extended freeze-thaw cycles

This paper explores the influence of incorporating microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (MPCM) on the evolution of both mechanical behavior and meso-structural damage in mortars in response to prolonged freezethaw conditions, employing Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for thermal analysis, comprehensive mechanical performance experiments, and high-resolution X-ray Tomography (XRT) to assess internal damage evolution. The DSC results highlight the thermoregulatory effect of MPCM, which influences the performance of the mortars under freeze-thaw conditions. Mechanical experiments show a trade-off between initial strength and long-term durability, with MPCM-enhanced mortars demonstrating significantly reduced strength loss when exposed to extended freeze-thaw cycles compared to control mortars. XRT images further corroborate these outcomes, illustrating less pronounced meso-structural degradation in MPCM-containing samples when exposed to extended freeze-thaw cycles. Overall, the findings in this paper reveal that MPCM-infused mortars, particularly those with higher MPCM concentrations, exhibit significantly reduced internal damage and maintain better mechanical integrity compared to control samples. Collectively, these insights suggest that MPCM integration could be a pivotal strategy for designing more resilient and durable cementitious composites, paving the way for future advancements in construction practices tailored to withstand the challenges of freeze-thaw conditions.