Preparation and Characterization\nof Thermoregulated Rigid Polyurethane\nFoams Containing Nanoencapsulated Phase Change Materials

Abstract

Thermoregulated rigid\npolyurethane foams containing silica shelled\nnanoencapsulated phase change materials (NanoPCMs) were fabricated.\nChemical composition and morphology of the composite foams were characterized\nby Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron\nmicroscopy (SEM), respectively. Thermal properties of the composite\nfoams were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric\nanalysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) methods.\nThe NanoPCMs are homogeneously dispersed in a polyurethane matrix.\nHigher NanoPCMs contents in the composite foams lead to slightly increased\ncell size, minor decrease of glass transition temperature (<i>T</i>_g), and higher phase change enthalpies. The\ncomposite foams exhibit good thermal reliability, reasonable thermoregulation\nproperty, and fairly high compressive properties. In addition, the\ncompressive property-density relationship for the composite foams\nagrees well with the Gibson–Ashby’s power law.