Preparation of microencapsulated phase change materials (mPCMs) by using RAFT synthesized well-defined surfactants

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 190; p. 122215
• Main Authors: Rezaee Shirin-Abadi, Abbas, Zafarghandi, Milad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 02.03.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Acrylic acid; Acrylic resins; Addition polymerization; Amphiphilic block copolymer; Block copolymers; Chain transfer; Copolymers; Energy conservation; Hexadecane; Melamine; Melamine formaldehyde (MF); Melamine formaldehyde resins; Microcapsules; Molecular weight; Morphology; Phase change materials; Phase change materials (PCM); Pollutants; Polymerization; Polystyrene; Polystyrene resins; RAFT polymerization; Renewable energy; Surface roughness; Surfactants; Thermal energy; Thermal resistance; Microcapsules; Melamine formaldehyde (MF); Phase change materials (PCM); RAFT polymerization; Amphiphilic block copolymer
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2020.122215

Microencapsulated phase change materials (mPCMs) could be used for energy saving applications in various renewable energy systems. Surfactant as the most important ingredient for preparing mPCMs plays a significant role on the final characteristics of prepared capsules. Herein, a series of poly (acrylic acid)-b-polystyrene (PAA-b-PSt) block copolymers was prepared by using reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Then, these block copolymers were used as well-defined surfactants for fabricating microcapsules containing n-hexadecane (HD) as a phase change material (PCM) through dispersion polymerization with melamine formaldehyde resin as a shell. The length of acrylic acid and polystyrene blocks as the critical affective factor on final morphology, surface roughness, and thermal resistance of the microcapsules was extensively evaluated. It was found that the higher length of PAA block and its molecular weight leads to more roughness of mPCMs. This new methodology, using RAFT prepared well-defined surfactants, provides an opportunity to have a more control over the microcapsule properties, especially the morphology and roughness. [Display omitted] •We have prepared a series of poly(acrylic acid)-b-polystyrene block copolymers by using RAFT polymerization.•Prepared block copolymers were used as well-defined surfactants for fabrication of microcapsules containing n-hexadecane.•The higher the length of PAA block and its molecular weight, the more the roughness of mPCMs.•We have introduced a way to have a more control over the microcapsules properties, particularly the roughness.