Properties of n-eicosane-loaded silk fibroin-chitosan microcapsules

PCM microcapsules containing n‐eicosane were prepared by complex coacervation of silk fibroin (SF) and chitosan (CHI). Chemical characterization of microcapsules was carried out using Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. Thermal properties and thermal stability of microencapsulated n‐eicosane were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). FTIR spectra confirmed the encapsulation of n‐eicosane within the microcapsules. Results from thermal analyses showed that microcapsules consisted of an average of 45.7 wt % n‐eicosane, and had a thermal energy storage and release capacity of about 93.04 J/g and 89.68 J/g, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011