Characterization and thermophysical property evaluation of ceramic and metal oxide-based hybrid nanoparticles enhanced paraffin PCM
摘要
Paraffin wax is widely used as a Phase Change Material (PCM) in thermal management applications due to its effective energy storage capabilities. However, its low thermal conductivity significantly limits its performance. This study focuses on the development of hybrid nanocomposite PCMs (HnCPCMs) by incorporating ceramic (Boron Nitride) and metal oxide (Zinc Oxide) nanoparticles into paraffin wax at varying compositions to overcome these limitations. Five different samples were prepared, with 100 paraffin wax (PW), HnCPCM 1 (99.5% PW + 0.25% ZnO + 0.25% BN), HnCPCM 2 (99.25% PW + 0.5% ZnO + 0.25% BN), HnCPCM 3 (99% PW + 0.75% ZnO + 0.25% BN), and HnCPCM 4 (99% PW + 0.50% ZnO + 0.50% BN) mass percentage compositions. Various characteristics techniques were employed to assess surface morphology, chemical interactions, and thermal properties. The results showed the excellent chemical and thermal stability for all HnCPCM samples, with no alteration to the chemical structure of paraffin wax. Surface morphology and crystallographic analysis confirmed the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles across the paraffin matrix. The incorporation of BN and ZnO nanoparticles significantly enhanced the thermal properties of the PCMs. Among the samples, HnCPCM 4 showed the best performance, achieving a 61.85% increase in thermal conductivity compared to pure paraffin, along with an optimum phase change enthalpy of 204.2 J g−1 and a latent heat rate of 3.85 Jg−1 s−1.Thermal stability was also notably improved, with the decomposition onset temperature increasing from 160 °C for pure PCM to 220 °C for HnCPCM 4.These findings highlight the potential of HnCPCMs for thermal management applications.