Thermally conductive high‐density polyethylene as novel phase‐change material: Application‐relevant long‐term stability

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External Organisational units

  • Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (AIT), Vienna, Austria

Abstract

The long-term stability of thermally conductive high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based compounds as phase-change material (PCM) is investigated. For this purpose, the HDPE’s thermal conductivity (TC) is first enhanced via compounding two different filler types (expanded graphite and aluminum) into the polymeric matrix. Bulky specimens of these compounds are then stored in air for up to 7289 h in the melt state to investigate the compounds’ long-term stability as PCM. Their thermo-oxidative/thermal stability and their ability to maintain the isotropic material character (homogeneous distribution of the incorporated particles) is investigated. The compounds’ degradation behavior is monitored via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the maintenance of the homogeneous filler distribution is examined via a combined Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)/Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) mapping of each exposed specimen. The storage capacity decreases minimally after 7289 h of exposure. Furthermore, the incorporated filler particles enhance the thermo-oxidative stability of HDPE as PCM. Consequently, thermally conductive HDPE is a highly interesting PCM.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number48269
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Applied Polymer Science
Volume137.2020
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jul 2019