Preparation and Characterization of a Form-Stable Phase Change Materials Composed by UF, Paraffin and Expanded Perlite

A kind of form stable phase change material (PCM) based on expanded perlite, paraffin, urea formaldehyde hybrids is prepared by using vacuum-impregnation process. This kind of form stable PCM is made of paraffin as a dispersed phase change material and expanded perlite as a supporting material, and urea-formaldehyde resins as membrane materials to be applied to the porous surface of expanded perlite(EP). The structure of urea-formaldehyde resins(UF) being prepared is characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer(FT-IR). Hybrids’ thermal stability, latentheat and morphology are characterized by the thermogravimetry analysis(TGA), differential scanning calorimeter(DSC) Method and scanning electronic microscope(SEM), respectively. The FT-IR and SEM curves show that urea-formaldehyde resins have already been formed. The TGA analysis indicates that the form-stable phase change material has very good thermostability under working atmosphere. The application of DSC not only studies the appropriate curing time of UF，but also indicates that the form-stable PCM that has been prepared has more stable thermal energy storage performance than the traditional one.