Thermal behavior analysis of wood-based furniture applied with phase change materials and finishing treatment for stable thermal energy storage

In recent times, indoor environments have become increasingly important for occupants who spend most of their time indoors. The use of furniture, which occupies a large specific surface area in interior spaces, is expanding. Medium-density fiberboard, particleboard, and plywood are generally used as wood-based furniture materials, and these materials require surface-finishing treatment to maintain quality and efficiency. Among various types of finishing treatments, low-pressure melamine (LPM) coating can be applied to other materials using the hot pressure process. The coating provides an exterior pattern, reduces the emission of pollutants, and resists moisture. However, when a furniture item is fixed in environment with a large temperature difference, water vapor condensation is likely to occur. In particular, the materials of a built-in furniture item require to be improved. As the use of indoor furniture increases, various functions are required. In this study, phase change materials (PCMs) were applied to wood-based furniture materials to reduce their sensitivity to temperature changes and provide effective heat storage properties. This application process was performed using three types of materials, and the results indicated high enthalpy and thermal storage performance. The PCM/wood material of the surface of the specimen required 187 min to reach the peak temperature at a high ambient temperature and exhibited reduced temperature sensitivity. Moreover, LPM-based finishing treatment is an effective method to prevent PCM leakage.