Thermal Energy Storage Enhancement of Lightweight Cement Mortars with the Application of Phase Change Materials

In this study, cement-based thermal energy storage composites (TESC) were developed by integrating a novel phase change material (PCM) composite into ordinary cement mortar (NC). The composite PCM is based on paraffin and hydrophobic expanded perlite and it is form-stable when integrating into cementitious composites. The composite PCM was integrated as partial replacement for fine aggregate and the replacement ratios are 20%, 40%, 60% and 80%. The mechanical and thermal performance of TESC was studied. The results revealed that the developed TESC shows superior thermal performance with acceptable mechanical properties. TESC prepared by replacing 80% of composite PCM (TESC-80) shows the apparent density of 1100 kg/m3 and 28 days compressive strength of 18 MPa. Furthermore, TESC shows significant enhancement in thermal performance. In comparison to NC, TESC-80 shows an increase of 56% and 166% for thermal energy storage rate and thermal energy storage capacity respectively.