Microencapsulation of n-tetradecane with poly (methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) shell by seeded emulsion polymerisation and its thermal energy storage characteristics

Abstract

This study aims to enhance the latent heat storage properties of the microcapsules by altering the amount of crosslinking agent from 3 to 20%w/w, the core-to-shell ratio from 1:1 to 2:1, and the amount of initiator from 1 to 3%. The phase change material n-tetradecane (C-14) was microencapsulated by using poly (methyl methacrylate -co- methacrylic acid) as a shell material through an oil by water-seeded emulsion polymerisation technique. The structural, morphological, and thermal properties of microcapsules were evaluated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The average particle size of the microcapsules ranges from 01 to 15 µm. The results showed that the microcapsules have a higher melting enthalpy value of 127.3 ± 0.06 J/g with a microencapsulation efficiency of 66.72% when a 20% w/w crosslinker was used. The thermal stability of the phase change material (PCM) was increased by ∼30 ± 2 °C by encapsulation.

Keywords:

• n-Tetradecane
• microencapsulation
• acrylic copolymer
• enthalpy optimisation
• cold storage application

Acknowledgement

All the authors are thankful to Covestro India Private Limited (CIPL) for sponsoring this research and providing valuable input in analysing the results.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.