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Preparation and properties of a form‐stable phase‐change hydrogel for thermal energy storage
Author(s) -
Wang Tao,
Wu Nan,
Li Hui,
Lu QuLiang,
Jiang Yong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.43836
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , differential scanning calorimetry , composite number , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , scanning electron microscope , dynamic mechanical analysis , chemical engineering , polyacrylamide , composite material , phase (matter) , polymer chemistry , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
In this study, we aimed to fabricate a form‐stable phase‐change hydrogel (PCH) with excellent mechanical properties and heat‐storage properties. Sodium alginate (SA) and polyacrylamide (PAAm) composite hydrogels were prepared with ionically crosslinked SA in a PAAm hydrogel network. Glauber's salt [i.e., sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na 2 SO 4 ·10H 2 O)] was incorporated within the hydrogel network as a phase‐change material. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs revealed that Na 2 SO 4 ·10H 2 O was confined in the micropores of the hydrogel inner spaces, and differential scanning calorimetry curves showed that the composite hydrogel possessed a considerable storage potential. Mechanical properties tests, such as tensile and compressive measurements, presented a decreasing trend with increasing Na 2 SO 4 ·10H 2 O dosage. We concluded that the prepared composite PCH could be used to design hydrogel materials with thermal‐energy‐storage applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 43836.