Polymorphic Esters As Bio-Based PCMs

摘要

The choice of suitable phase change materials is of crucial importance to the development of efficient latentheat storage systems. Bio-based, long-chained fatty esters and triglycerides are reported to possess interestingmelting points and high enthalpies of fusion, but their development has been halted so far by their tendency togive rise to different polymorphs under different thermal conditions. While polymorphism is a well-knownphenomenon common to many application fields (e.g. pharmaceutical, food pressing), little is known on thelong-term control of polymorphic phases. In order to promote the usage of bio-based polymorphic esters, adeeper understanding of the factors influencing the polymorphism and ways to trigger only the desiredcrystalline phase are of critical importance. In the present study, recent advances on the characterization of Tristearin's(a natural triglyceride)polymorphic phases and the factors influencing it,such as heating rates andthermal history, are reported.