Development of PCM-in-water emulsion as mixing water replacement for phase change material (PCM) incorporation in Portland cement paste

Abstract

This study developed a new technique to incorporate high concentrations of liquid phase change material (PCM) into Portland cement paste by utilizing a PCM-in-water emulsion stabilized with a non-ionic surfactant (Pluronic P123). The emulsion approach effectively overcame the leakage problem, enabling the successful integration of up to approximately 10.3 wt% PCM in the paste. Comprehensive characterization, including compressive strength testing, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and infrared (IR) imaging, demonstrated that the surfactant-stabilized PCM emulsion significantly improved the thermal performance of the hardened paste while minimizing PCM leakage. Although the current study focused on fundamental evaluations, the promising results suggest that this method is applicable to larger-scale cementitious systems, offering a practical pathway for enhancing the energy efficiency of cement-based composites.