Disc-Shaped Particles with Cellulose Nanocrystals and Poly(ethylene glycol)-Based Polymers as Phase-Change Materials

Abstract We have previously reported that disc-shaped particles are fabricated from cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) through reorganization in a solvent. The disc-shaped particles, which encapsulate PEGDA with outer-segregated CNCs, can be a promising heat storage material through the phase transition of PEGDA around 50 °C, based on the general view that they have a larger specific surface area than spherical ones, with the assistance of outer-segregated CNCs. In this study, we have clarified the thermal properties of the disc-shaped particles and proved that these discs are promising phase-change materials (PCM): First, the PEGDA crystals in the discs are easier to crystallize during the cooling process than in the bulk state, leading to suppressed supercooling, reasonably due to the larger specific surface area, and the other is that the powder of the disc particles does not melt in appearance above the melting temperature, which leads to a stand-alone leakage-free PCM.