Preparation and characterization of mesoporous materials from low-grade palygorskite clay and its applied in composite phase change material

Abstract

Abstract Al-MCM-41 was obtained using low-grade palygorskite (LPAL) as a silica and aluminum source. The Al-MCM-41showed mesoporous structure and relatively high BET surface area (1109.32 m2/g). The composite phase change material (paraffin/Al-MCM-41 composites) was prepared via vacuum impregnation method using the Al-MCM-41 as a carrier. The morphology, thermal property and thermal stability of the paraffin/Al-MCM-41 composites were investigated. The paraffin concentration in the composites was 70.21%, and the freezing latent heat and melting latent heat of the paraffin/Al-MCM-41 composites were 131.22\xa0J/g and 132.61\xa0J/g, respectively. Furthermore, the paraffin/Al-MCM-41 composites exhibited an excellent thermal stability and the thermal conductivity of paraffin/Al-MCM-41 composites was 0.453\xa0W/m ⋅ K.