A novel approach to control the temperature of chocolate in a packaging box using ultrasound-assisted nanoencapsulated eutectic phase change materials powder

A binary eutectic of n-dodecanol and cetostearyl alcohol was prepared as a phase change material (PCM) and then nanoencapsulated (nPCM) by ultrasound-assisted polymerization for temperature-managing applications. Eutectic PCMs (e-PCMs) and nanocapsules powder were examined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). e-PCM had 18.8 °C (melting point) and 192.6 J/g (latent heat), respectively, while nanocapsules powder showed 134.0 J/g (latent heat) with a similar melting point. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to examine the inert nature of the e-PCM towards shell materials used for synthesizing nanocapsules powder. Morphology, core/shell structure, particle size distribution (avg. ∼ 260 nm), and thermal stability prepared powder were confirmed by the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Therefore, the prepared nanocapsules powder was used to show performance in managing the temperature inside a temperature-controlled packaging (TCP) box.