Shape-stablized EP/paraffin composite for latent heat storage

62# and 56# paraffin mixtures were impregnated into expanded perlite (EP) by vacuuming method. Effects of impregnation with/without vacuum, vacuuming time, and thermal cycles were discussed. The appropriate mass fraction of paraffin mixture in the composite and vacuuming time were found respectively to be 80% and 20 min. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) analysis shows that it has a good compatibility between paraffin mixture and EP. From differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, the latent heat of EP/Paraffin mixture composite is almost linearly related with the mass fraction of paraffin mixture in the composite. After 100 thermal cycles, the deviation of phase change temperatures is acceptable, but more deviation of latent heat appears. The calcium stearate dispersing granule coated by epoxy resin can effectively lower leakage during thermal cycles.