Supercooling characteristics of phase change material particles within phase change emulsions

In this study, the supercooling characteristics of PCM particles in PCEs cooled at constant temperature were investigated experimentally, based on the assumed use of PCEs in practical applications. n-hexadecane (melting point: 291.35 K) and n-octadecane (melting point: 301.35 K) were used as the dispersed PCMs. The mean PCM particle diameter and surfactant type were varied as experimental parameters, and the PCEs were subjected to various supercooling degrees and cooling times. The experimental results showed that the mean PCM particle diameter, supercooling degree, and cooling time of the PCE affected the freezing ratio of the PCM particles, when the PCE was prepared with Tween 80. When the PCE was prepared with Tween 60 or polyvinyl alcohol as the surfactant (which had similar structures to the PCM), the cooling time did not significantly affect the freezing ratio.