Preparation and properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)-g-octadecanol copolymers based solid–solid phase change materials

The heat storage and phase transition behavior of a series of poly(vinyl alcohol)-g-octadecanol copolymers (PVA-g-C18OH) with apparent grafting ratios ranging from 283 to 503%, synthesized through “grafting to” method, has been investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). PVA-g-C18OH copolymers exhibit the better thermal stability against C18OH, and the thermal energy storage ability (ΔHm) is of dependence on the apparent grafting ratios. Compared with C18OH, the lower thermal storage efficiency possible is attributed to the less CH2 groups entered into the crystalline domains and the frustrated mobility of the grafted C18 alkyl side chains between PVA backbones. The results show that PVA-g-C18OH copolymers have the better thermal stability and storage ability, which can be wildly applied in the aspect of thermal energy storage.

► In this paper, our objective is just focused on the preparation and characterization of such SSPCMs aiming at providing one suitable material for improving the thermal stability and preventing the liquid leakage from the matrix. Here, the SSPCMs can be fabricated by grafting to method between poly(vinyl alcohol) and octadecanol, which the grafting ratio can be controlled by adjusting the feeding components.
► The thermal properties, crystalline structure and morphology were detailed studies by WAXD, FT-IR, TGA and DSC, proving that the PVA-g-octadecanol process the better thermal storage ability and thermal stability. Compared with pure octadecanol, the heat fusion of PVA-g-octadecanol decreased due to the mobility confinement and the lower rearrangements of C18 alkyl side chains.
► This result is for the first time reported, and is a meaningful result for the investigation of the solid–solid phase change materials, and the preparation process provides one template-directed approach to obtain the high-performance materials with the better heat storage and thermal stability.