Composite aerogel incorporating low temperature phase change microcapsules for enhanced thermal insulation

Cryogenic transportation and storage confront significant challenges from harsh weather conditions, heightened energy consumption, and epidemic situations, compelling the need for the creation of exceptionally efficient thermal insulation materials. To address this demand, a composite phase change aerogel was designed in this study through incorporating low-temperature microencapsulated phase change microcapsules (MPCM) into a cellulose nanofiber/polyvinyl alcohol (CNF/PVA) system. The MPCM, consisting of a polyurethane-acrylate (PUA) shell and an n-tetradecane core, exhibited excellent encapsulation performance with leak-proof capability. Remarkable low-temperature phase change energy storage properties were observed, including a phase change temperature of approximately 6 °C and an impressive phase change enthalpy of 112 J/g. The MPCM also demonstrated stability during successive heating–cooling repetitions, maintaining its heat storage capacity and morphology for at least 300 cycles. These exceptional thermal characteristics endowed the resulting aerogel with effective thermal insulation and temperature retardation abilities. Meanwhile, the integration of CNF/PVA as the matrix in the composite aerogel led to minimal degradation of thermal storage performance compared to pure MPCM. Moreover, the addition of MPCM significantly enhanced the compressive strength, reaching 5.6 times that of the neat CNF/PVA aerogel. The composite aerogel showed a notably low density of 0.165 g/cm3 and could be reshaped through heating. This work provides a simple yet effective idea for designing bulk materials with low-temperature phase change capabilities, offering promising prospects in the field of thermal insulation.