Thermal properties of heat storage composites containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Thermal performance enhanced heat storage nanocomposites consisting of palmitic acid (PA) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by dispersing chemically treated CNTs into melting PA. The PA/CNT composites remain stable after repeating energy storage and release 80 times. The melting point and latent heat capacity decrease with an increase in the mass fraction of CNTs. PA/CNT composites have enhanced thermal conductivities compared to pure PA, with the enhancement ratios increasing with the mass fraction of CNTs. For PA/CNT composite containing CNTs with a mass fraction of 5.0%, the thermal conductivity enhancement ratios amount up to 36% and 56% in solid and liquid states, respectively.