Cross-Linked Poly(<i>N</i>-hydroxymethyl acrylamide)/Polyethylene Glycol Eutectic Microspheres with an Interpenetrating Polymer Network as a Composite Phase Change Material

Abstract

This study presents a composite phase change material (CPCM) that uses emulsion polymerization to prepare cross-linked poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) (PN-MA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) eutectic microspheres. X-ray diffractogram shows that even after adding PN-MA for cross-linking, the PEG eutectic still exhibited crystallization ability. Differential scanning calorimetry shows that the CPCM melted at 31.58 °C with 94.61 J/g and solidified at 38.02 °C with 88.63 J/g. Thermogravimetric analysis suggested that the CPCM can be applied to thermal energy storage. After 25 thermal cycles, there was a change in the macrostructure of the CPCM and the latent heat of phase change. Scanning electron microscopy results shows that the CPCM is a kind of microsphere with uniform particle size distribution. The CPCM is expected to be used in fields such as smart textiles, thermal insulation materials, and industrial waste heat utilization.