Thermophysical properties and enhancement behavior of novel B4C-nanoadditive RT35HC nanocomposite phase change materials: Structural, morphological, thermal energy storage and thermal stability

This study aims to enhancement the thermal conductivity of RT35HC, as a commercial paraffin, by integrating boron carbide (B4C) nanoparticles for the first time, thereby producing B4C-nanoadditive nanocomposite PCMs. The B4C nanoparticles were reinforcement to RT35HC at mass fraction percentages (wt.%) of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 by melting and physical mixing method. The structural and morphological characteristics of both pure and nanocomposite PCMs were examined using XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, and EDX. Thermal properties were investigated through DSC, TGA/DTA, and thermal conductivity measurements using the KD2-Pro device. The Gaussian process regression (GPR) model was used to analyze the Cp values in relation to temperature and additive ratio. Structural and morphological analysis results indicated a homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles within the PCM matrix, without any significant chemical or physical alterations. The introduction of B4C-nanoadditive did not markedly affect the melting and solidification temperatures. However, melting and solidification enthalpies decreased proportionally with increased nanoadditive ratios, with the greatest reductions being 7.44 % and 5.74 % at a 2 wt% nanoaddition rate, respectively. As the nanoadditive ratio increased, the thermal conductivity (k) and specific heat capacity (Cp) of RT35HC in both solid and liquid-phases enhanced significantly. Specifically, solid-phase (25 °C) k values increased by 67.51 % from 0.197 to 0.33, and liquid-phase (50 °C) k values by 15.29 % from 0.170 to 0.196. The highest Cp values in the solid and liquid-phases were measured as 3.01 and 2.49, respectively, in the nanocomposite with a high nanoadditive ratio. The GPR method yielded a success rate of 0.9015. Additionally, the nanocomposites exhibited enhanced thermal stability and higher thermal decomposition temperatures. Based on these characterizations, the fabricated B4C-nanoadditive nanocomposite PCMs show promise for application in TES and TM systems. [Display omitted] •A novel PCM nanocomposite was produced adding B4C nanoparticles to RT35HC.•The incorporation of B4C nanoparticles into RT35HC notably enhanced its thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity.•The enhanced thermal decomposition temperature of the nanocomposite indicates its suitability for long-term use.•The enhanced thermal properties of the nanocomposites hold significant promise for TES and TM applications.