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SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPOSITE PHASE CHANGE HUMIDITY CONTROL MATERIALS

Abstract

A new kind of phase change humidity control material (PCHCM) was prepared by using PCM microcapsules and different hygroscopic porous materials. The PCHCM composite can regulate the indoor hygrothermal environment by absorbing or releasing both heat and moisture. The PCM microcapsules were synthesized with methyl triethoxysilane by the sol–gel method. The vesuvianite, sepiolite and zeolite were used as hygroscopic materials. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to measure the morphology profiles of the microcapsules and PCHCM. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to determine the thermal properties and thermal stability. Both the moisture transfer coefficient and moisture buffer value (MBV) of different PCHCMs were measured by the improved cup method. The DSC results showed that the SiO₂ shell can reduce the super-cooling degree of PCM. The super-cooling degrees of microcapsules and PCHCM are lower than that of the pure PCM. The onset temperature of thermal degradation of the microcapsules and PCHCMs is higher than that of pure PCM. Both the moisture transfer coefficient and MBV of PCHCMs are higher than that of the pure hygroscopic materials. The results indicated the PCHCMs have better thermal properties and moisture buffer ability.

Key Words: Microencapsulated phase change material; Humidity control material; Energy efficiency; Passive hygrothermal design

Biography

Prof. Qin is Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research at School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University (Top 3 in China). Prior to joining Nanjing University, he held a permanent faculty position in the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at Queen's University in the United Kingdom, where he was champion for sustainability, and acted as the Program Director for the MSc in Sustainable Design. Dr Qin received the PhD in Building Science from the University of La Rochelle in France, and was a guest scientist at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Washington DC, USA.

Prof. Qin has over 18 years of research and practical experience in Building Science. He studies coupled heat, air, moisture and pollutant transport in buildings, advanced building simulation, sustainable building technology, indoor air quality, smart materials, green building and high performance HVAC systems design etc. He has developed advanced experimental methods, computer simulation models and environmental control technologies. He has authored/co-authored over 90 research papers, and 5 books in relevant areas.

In addition to the research and teaching, Prof. Qin also has extensive experience in environmental system design and green building consultancy. He has practiced internationally including work in the UK and China. As the founder/co-founder of multi-disciplinary design practice P+ environmental design group, he actively participates in various design projects, exhibition, and publication actives. He has provided consulting for many big construction projects including the new site of China Central Television (CCTV) etc. and for firms including Panasonic, Carrier Shanghai Ltd., and East China Architectural Design and Research Institute Ltd. (ECADI).