Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The reshaping of the construction industry has led to a progressive increase of glazed facades in commercial buildings not just for aesthetic reasons but also to enhance access to natural light. However, glass is a material unable to operate efficiently as a thermal insulator. Thus, it becomes necessary the use of air conditioning devices to sustain a pleasant temperature indoors contributing significantly to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. As a pioneer class of materials in thermal energy management and harvesting, phase change material (PCM) are an innovative approach in temperature regulation applications. The work seeks to investigate the production of polymeric films with microencapsulated PCM and metal oxide particles with a specular transmittance superior to 50% in the visible range of the spectrum, great adhesive properties and resistance to solar degradation. The cellulose Acetate (CA) and polymethyl meth-acrylate (PMMA) polymeric films had a transmittance in the visible range higher than 88%. The pure vaseline from Trade Medic (PVTM) was the PCM with the lowest melting point around 40 ºC. From the materials studied, the polymer, metal oxide, PCM and shell were cellulose acetate, vanadium oxide, pure vaseline from TradeMedic and silica, respectively. This composite films exhibited great adherence to glass and a specular transmittance of over 56% at a 500 nm wavelength.
Author: Cabral, Pedro João Neres
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7010368807