Polysaccharide-Stabilized Phase Change Bio-Complexes for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phase change materials (PCMs) face limitations in real-world applications due to issues like useful life cycle, fluidity/leakage in the melt state, phase separation, poor thermal stability, and corrosion between PCM and container, which require additional stabilization and structural support, often using synthetic polymers that are non-degradable and environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
Development of biocompatible phase change bio-complexes composed of PCMs and polysaccharides, where polysaccharides provide mechanical and thermal stabilization, and PCMs offer temperature-responsive properties, using sugar alcohols and salt hydrates with ionic agents for compatibility and tunable thermophysical properties, enabling high heat storage capacity and structural stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If synthetic polymers are used to stabilize PCMs, then structural stability and leakage prevention are improved, but environmental harm and non-degradability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from synthetic polymer to natural polysaccharide, transforming the system from non-degradable to biodegradable while maintaining the stabilizing function. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by selecting a different material class that provides similar structural support without the environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite system where polysaccharide forms a matrix or complex with the PCM. This composite structure provides the necessary structural stability and leakage prevention while using environmentally benign natural materials instead of harmful synthetic polymers.
2Quantity of substance
If PCMs are used for heat storage, then thermal energy capacity is improved, but phase separation and thermal stability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention embeds the PCM within a polysaccharide matrix or forms a complex where the PCM is nested within the polysaccharide structure. This nesting prevents phase separation by physically constraining the PCM while allowing it to maintain its heat storage capacity through phase change.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of polysaccharide and PCM provides thermal stability to the PCM during phase change cycles. The polysaccharide matrix prevents degradation and phase separation while allowing the PCM to function for heat storage, resolving the contradiction between energy capacity and compositional stability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If PCMs are used in melt state, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but fluidity and leakage worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates different local properties within the system: the PCM maintains its fluidity and heat transfer efficiency in the melt state where needed, while the polysaccharide matrix provides structural containment to prevent leakage. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between heat transfer and leakage prevention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bio-complexes exhibit high heat storage capacity, structural stability, and leakage prevention in the melt state, with repeatable thermal and mechanical stability, and can be processed into various forms for thermal management applications, aligning with sustainable and green chemistry principles.
Implementation Method 1
it can undergo complexation with di/multivalent cations such as calcium and magnesium, which results in mechanical/structural improvement
Implementation Method 2
Phase change phenomenon, for example from a solid to a liquid state and vice versa, involves a relatively significant amount of heat exchange with the surrounding environment resulting in temperature stabilization
Implementation Method 3
PCMs can therefore absorb, store and release large quantities of heat (thermal energy), which make them suitable for temperature regulation (heating and cooling) and heat storage applications
Data Source
AI summary
Temperature responsive phase change bio-complexes (PCBC) with tunable physicochemical properties and preparation method thereof. The phase change bio-complexes consist of a phase change material (PCM) (or mixture of PCMs) and a polysaccharide (or combination of polysaccharides). The polysaccharide provides mechanical and thermal stabilization and the PCM provides temperature responsive properties to the complexation. In order to undergo complexation with polysaccharides, sugar alcohols and salt hydrates classifications of PCMs are preferred which results in compatibility and homogeneity of the bio-complexes. Addition of multivalent cations (water soluble salts) and/or salts of an acid tunes the thermophysical properties of the bio-complexes such as tunable temperature and latent heat of fusion and structural and thermal stability. These environmentally benign phase change bio-complexes can be applied in different form-stable formats such as powdered, films, pellets, sheets, beads, sponge etc. for thermal management purposes including thermal energy storage and thermal protection via heat absorbing-releasing, for instance, in building, packaging, electronics, temperature sensitive items (black boxes) and wearables.