Thermal properties of geopolymer composites containing microencapsulated phase change materials

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the possibility of using phase change materials (PCMs) as one of the components of a geopolymer and to determine the effect of PCMs addition on the thermal properties of the geopolymer composite obtained. This paper presents the results of geopolymers produced based on fly ash with the addition of microencapsulated PCMs. The geopolymer composites were prepared by adding 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% PCM, and the curing process was carried out in two temperature ranges: 60°C and 75°C. A PCM with a melting point of 28°C (MicroCapsPCM28‐slurry [Slovenia]) was used. The composites were subjected to thermal conductivity tests in three temperature ranges (0–20°C; 20–40°C; and 30–50°C). This was followed by specific heat and density tests. In addition, the morphology of the geopolymers was determined by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the addition of PCMs to the geopolymer materials significantly reduces their thermal conductivity index (compared to the reference sample). Furthermore, the addition of microencapsulated phase‐change materials caused changes in the specific heat of the materials analyzed. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the possibility of using phase change materials (PCMs) as one of the components of a geopolymer and to determine the effect of PCMs addition on the thermal properties of the geopolymer composite obtained. This paper presents the results of geopolymers produced based on fly ash with the addition of microencapsulated PCMs. The geopolymer composites were prepared by adding 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% PCM, and the curing process was carried out in two temperature ranges: 60°C and 75°C. A PCM with a melting point of 28°C (MicroCapsPCM28‐slurry (Slovenia)) was used. The composites were subjected to thermal conductivity tests in three temperature ranges (0–20°C; 20–40°C; and 30–50°C). This was followed by specific heat and density tests. In addition, the morphology of the geopolymers was determined by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the addition of PCMs to the geopolymer materials significantly reduces their thermal conductivity index (compared to the reference sample). Furthermore, the addition of microencapsulated phase‐change materials caused changes in the specific heat of the materials analyzed.