Phase Change Materials\nfor Energy Storage Applications\nfrom PEG and PBAT with AlN and CNT as Fillers

This study investigates the fabrication of phase change\nmaterial–poly(butylene\nadipate-<i>co</i>-terephthalate) (PCM–PBAT) composites\nthrough melt blending techniques, focusing on the impact of isophorone\ndiisocyanate (IPDI) treatment on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane\n(APTES) treatment on aluminum nitride (AlN) particles. Analysis of\nmechanical properties highlights an enhancement in tensile strength\nwith APTES-treated AlN particles, while dynamic mechanical analysis\n(DMA) reveals an increase in stiffness. Laser flash analysis (LFA)\ninvestigation demonstrates a significant increase, up to 325%, in\nthermal conductivity compared to PCM–PBAT composites without\nfiller. Moreover, the fabricated composites exhibit enhanced latent\nheat storage capabilities, with the PCM–PBAT composite containing\n30% filler (20PCM–PBAT–30F) showing promising latent\nheat values. These findings underscore the efficacy of selecting an\nappropriate PCM–PBAT ratio and surface functionalization of\nthe filler particles in enhancing the latent heat storage and thermal\nand mechanical properties of the polymer composites, suggesting their\npotential application across diverse fields.