Form-stable and light-to-thermal conversion properties of comb-like polymer composite phase change materials for thermal management application

In this paper, composite phase change materials (cPCMs) were prepared by the impregnation method with poly (methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride)-g-octadecanol (PM18) comb-like polymer as PCMs and reduced graphene oxide-carbon nanotubes hybrid aerogel (CG-x) that x (the mass ratio between CNT and GO) varies from 0.5 to 2 as supporting matrix. Thermal properties such as phase change enthalpy, thermal repeatability and shape stabilization of cPCMs were investigated by FTIR, DSC, and thermocouple. PM18@CG-x cPCMs exhibit an enhanced shape-stabilization behavior at 80 degrees C for 30 min and a 300% increased thermal conductivity is realized. PM18@CG-1 cPCMs demonstrate an excellent light-to-thermal conversion capacity and a good thermal energy storage and release ability, and its largest temperature appears at 75.4 degrees C under 100 mW/cm(2) irradiation intensity. Furthermore, the light-to-thermal conversion capability of fabric controlled by the back-bonded PM18@CG-1 slice is investigated, and the influence of irradiation intensity on thermal energy buffering time is also discussed. Through controlling the number of PM18@CG-1 slices, the tailored thermal properties are further analyzed. This method provides a method to approach the shape-stabilized PCMs with good thermal management and photothermal conversion capability.