A template-method synthesis of mesoporous-MgO/expanded graphite for enhancing thermal properties of methyl palmitate-lauric acid phase change materials

Relatively weak thermal conductivity and antileakage performance of phase change materials (PCMs) limit their applications. The present work focuses on the development of a novel composite PCM (MP-LA/MgO/EG) based on the dispersion of expanded graphite (EG) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles in a binary mixture of methyl palmitate-lauric acid (MP-LA). MgO/EG, a new supporting material, is assembled using expanded graphite and specially shaped MgO prepared with the surfactant-assisted high-temperature thermal decomposition method. In addition to maintaining the porous structure of EG and preventing the leakage of MP-LA, MgO/EG reduces the interface thermal resistance between the matrix and the PCM molecules because MgO maximizes heat conduction. The thermal conductivity of the proposed material (4.568 W/m/K) is 8.16 times higher than that of MP-LA, and its faster heat transfer rate is reflected directly in the infrared images. The enthalpy of MP-LA/MgO/EG-9 floats in a narrow range with the value of 1.88% during the process of heating-cooling cycles 100 times. The results reported herein can serve as a reference for the functional design of PCM supporting carriers that form good thermal conducting networks and provide the form-stable effect.