Completed project

Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials in Concrete

In order to make more energy efficient buildings it is important to reduce the energy consumption used for heating and cooling. While the daytime temperature can be too hot for comfort, the temperature at night can be too cold. The resulting need for cooling during the day and heating during the night results in an unnecessary energy consumption that can be greatly reduced by storing the energy from the excess heat during the day and releasing it back at night.

A substance that melts will absorb energy (heat) during the melting process while keeping the temperature constant until it is completely melted. This energy will be released again when the substance solidifies. This process can be used to reduce the unwanted temperature fluctuation inside buildings, utilizing a phase change material (PCM) that melts at a comfortable indoor temperature. Bulk quantities of PCMs are subject to problems that can be avoided by encapsulating the PCM into microcapsules. These microcapsules can then be added to building materials, such as concrete, in order to create a "smart" material suitable for passive house construction. It is however important to solve the problem of reduced material strength due to the incorporation of the PCM.

Addition of micro-encapsulated PCMs has been found to decrease the compressive strength of concrete. Although some speculations have been put forward, very little is actually known about the mechanisms behind this. We aim to discover these mechanisms, in order to optimize the combined mechanical and thermal properties of the concrete. This knowledge can be used to build more energy efficient buildings without adversely affecting their structural integrity.

In addition, we will gain valuable new knowledge about microcapsules. This will also be of great interest for other fields where microcapsules are utilized, e.g., medical and pharmaceutical applications, and the food and cosmetic industry.

This project is financed by the Norwegian Research Council (project number 238198).

There are 4 PhD-candidates working on this project, together with several national and international cooperation partners.

SEM-picture of microcapsules synthesized by Anna Szczotok.

Participants

Anna-Lena Kjøniksen (Leader)
Shima Pilehvar
Anna Szczotok
Vinh Duy Cao
Susana Garcia

Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Madsen, Dan; Serrano, Angel; Carmona, Manuel; Van Hees, Patrick & Rodriguez, Juan F. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Flame retardancy of rigid polyurethane foams containing thermoregulating microcapsules with phosphazene-based monomers. Journal of Materials Science. ISSN 0022-2461. 56, p. 1172–1188. doi: 10.1007/s10853-020-05389-6. Full text in Research Archive
Pilehvar, Shima; G. Sanfèlix, Susana ; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Rodriguez, Juan F.; Valentini, Luca & Lanzón, Marcos [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2020). Effect of temperature on geopolymer and Portland cement composites modified with Micro-encapsulated Phase Change materials. Construction and Building Materials. ISSN 0950-0618. 252. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119055. Full text in Research Archive
G. Sanfèlix, Susana ; Zea-García, Jesus D.; Londono-Zuluaga, Diana; Santacruz, Isabel; De la Torre, Ángeles G. & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2020). Hydration development and thermal performance of calcium sulphoaluminate cements containing microencapsulated phase change materials. Cement and Concrete Research. ISSN 0008-8846. 132. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2020.106039. Full text in Research Archive
Pilehvar, Shima; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Carmona, Manuel; Pamies, Ramón & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2020). The effect of microencapsulated phase change materials on the rheology of geopolymer and Portland cement mortars. Journal of The American Ceramic Society. ISSN 0002-7820. 103(10), p. 5852–5869. doi: 10.1111/jace.17215. Full text in Research Archive
Cao, Vinh Duy; Pilehvar, Shima; Salas Bringas, Carlos; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Bui, Tri Quang & Carmona, Manuel [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2019). Thermal analysis of geopolymer concrete walls containing microencapsulated phase change materials for building applications. Solar Energy. ISSN 0038-092X. 178, p. 295–307. doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2018.12.039. Full text in Research Archive
Pilehvar, Shima; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Rodríguez, Juan F.; Valentini, Luca; Lanzón, Marcos & Pamies, Ramon Francisco Porras [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the mechanical behavior of geopolymer concrete and Portland cement concrete containing micro-encapsulated phase change materials. Construction and Building Materials. ISSN 0950-0618. 200, p. 94–103. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.12.057. Full text in Research Archive
Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena; Rodríguez, Juan F. & Carmona, Manuel (2019). The accurate diffusive model for predicting the vapor pressure of phase change materials by thermogravimetric analysis. Thermochimica Acta. ISSN 0040-6031. 676, p. 64–70. doi: 10.1016/j.tca.2019.04.001.
Cao, Vinh Duy; Bui, Tri Quang & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2019). Thermal analysis of multi-layer walls containing geopolymer concrete and phase change materials for building applications. Energy. ISSN 0360-5442. 186. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.07.122. Full text in Research Archive
G. Sanfèlix, Susana ; Santacruz, Isabel; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Belloc, Luis Miguel O.; De la Torre, Ángeles G. & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2019). Effect of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials on the Flow Behavior of Cement Composites. Construction and Building Materials. ISSN 0950-0618. 202, p. 353–362. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.12.215. Full text in Research Archive
Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Carmona, Manuel; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena & Rodriguez, Juan F. (2018). The role of radical polymerization in the production of thermoregulating microcapsules or polymers from saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. ISSN 0021-8995. 135. doi: 10.1002/app.45970.
Cao, Vinh Duy; Pilehvar, Shima; Salas Bringas, Carlos; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Valentini, Luca & Carmona, Manuel [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2018). Influence of microcapsule size and shell polarity on thermal and mechanical properties of thermoregulating geopolymer concrete for passive building applications. Energy Conversion and Management. ISSN 0196-8904. 164, p. 198–209. doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2018.02.076. Full text in Research Archive
Pilehvar, Shima; Cao, Vinh Duy; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Carmona, Manuel; Valentini, Luca & Lanzón, Marcos [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2018). Physical and mechanical properties of fly ash and slag geopolymer concrete containing different types of micro-encapsulated phase change materials. Construction and Building Materials. ISSN 0950-0618. 173, p. 28–39. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.04.016. Full text in Research Archive
Cuesta, Ana; Zea-Garcia, Jesus D; Londono-Zuluaga, Diana; G. De la Torre, Angeles; Santacruz, Isabel & Vallcorba, Oriol [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Multiscale understanding of tricalcium silicate hydration reactions. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 8(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26943-y. Show summary
Tricalcium silicate, the main constituent of Portland cement, hydrates to produce crystalline calcium hydroxide and calcium-silicate-hydrates (C-S-H) nanocrystalline gel. This hydration reaction is poorly understood at the nanoscale. The understanding of atomic arrangement in nanocrystalline phases is intrinsically complicated and this challenge is exacerbated by the presence of additional crystalline phase(s). Here, we use calorimetry and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction to quantitatively follow tricalcium silicate hydration process: i) its dissolution, ii) portlandite crystallization and iii) C-S-H gel precipitation. Chiefly, synchrotron pair distribution function (PDF) allows to identify a defective clinotobermorite, Ca11Si9O28(OH)2 .8.5H2O, as the nanocrystalline component of C-S-H. Furthermore, PDF analysis also indicates that C-S-H gel contains monolayer calcium hydroxide which is stretched as recently predicted by first principles calculations. These outcomes, plus additional laboratory characterization, yielded a multiscale picture for C-S-H nanocomposite gel which explains the observed densities and Ca/Si atomic ratios at the nano- and meso- scales.
Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Garrido, Ignacio; Carmona, Manuel; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena & Rodriguez, Juan F. (2018). Predicting microcapsules morphology and encapsulation efficiency by combining the spreading coefficient theory and polar surface energy component. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. ISSN 0927-7757. 554, p. 49–59. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2018.06.022.
Cao, Vinh Duy; Pilehvar, Shima; Salas Bringas, Carlos; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Bui, Tri Quang & Carmona, Manuel [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2018). Thermal performance and numerical simulation of geopolymer concrete containing different types of thermoregulating materials for passive building applications. Energy and Buildings. ISSN 0378-7788. 173, p. 678–688. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.06.011. Full text in Research Archive
Cao, Vinh Duy; Salas Bringas, Carlos; Schüller, Reidar Barfod; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2018). Time-dependent structural breakdown of microencapsulated phase change materials suspensions. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology. ISSN 0193-2691. 40(2), p. 179–185. doi: 10.1080/01932691.2018.1462194. Full text in Research Archive
Cao, Vinh Duy; Salas Bringas, Carlos; Schüller, Reidar Barfod; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Hiorth, Marianne & Carmona, Manuel [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2018). Rheological and thermal properties of suspensions of microcapsules containing phase change materials. Colloid and Polymer Science. ISSN 0303-402X. 296(5), p. 981–988. doi: 10.1007/s00396-018-4316-9. Full text in Research Archive
Cao, Vinh Duy; Pilehvar, Shima; Salas Bringas, Carlos; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Do, Nu Bich Duyen & Le, Hoa Thanh [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Influence of Microcapsule Size and Shell Polarity on the Time-Dependent Viscosity of Geopolymer Paste. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. ISSN 0888-5885. 57(29), p. 9457–9464. doi: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b01961. Full text in Research Archive
Pilehvar, Shima; Cao, Vinh Duy; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Valentini, Luca; Salvioni, Davide & Magistri, Matteo [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Mechanical properties and microscale changes of geopolymer concrete and Portland cement concrete containing micro-encapsulated phase change materials. Cement and Concrete Research. ISSN 0008-8846. 100, p. 341–349. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.07.012. Full text in Research Archive
Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Carmona, M; Serrano, A.; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena & Rodriguez, Juan F. (2017). Development of thermoregulating microcapsules with cyclotriphosphazene as a flame retardant agent. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. ISSN 1757-8981. 251(1). doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/251/1/012120.
Szczotok, Anna; Carmona, Manuel; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena & Rodriguez, Juan F. (2017). Equilibrium adsorption of polyvinylpyrrolidone and its role on thermoregulating microcapsules synthesis process. Colloid and Polymer Science. ISSN 0303-402X. 295(5), p. 783–792. doi: 10.1007/s00396-017-4061-5. Full text in Research Archive
Cao, Vinh Duy; Pilehvar, Shima; Salas Bringas, Carlos; Szczotok, Anna; Rodriguez, Juan F. & Carmona, Manuel [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Microencapsulated phase change materials for enhancing the thermal performance of Portland cement concrete and geopolymer concrete for passive building applications. Energy Conversion and Management. ISSN 0196-8904. 133, p. 56–66. doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.11.061. Full text in Research Archive

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Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena; Calejo, Maria Teresa Rebelo; Cao, Vinh Duy; Pilehvar, Shima; G. Sanfèlix, Susana & Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria (2019). Advanced Materials - From drug delivery by energy technology to 3D-printing concrete on the Moon.
Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena; Calejo, Maria Teresa Rebelo; G. Sanfèlix, Susana ; Pilehvar, Shima; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria & Cao, Vinh Duy (2019). Advanced Materials - From drug delivery by energy technology to 3D-printing concrete on the Moon.
Cao, Vinh Duy (2018). Micro-encapsulated Phase Change Materials in Concrete .
Santacruz, Isabel; Romero-Espinosa, A.; G. Sanfèlix, Susana ; Cuesta, A; De la Torre, Ángeles G. & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2018). Processing and characterisation of calcium sulphoaluminate ecocements containing Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials.
Pilehvar, Shima (2017). Investigating the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete with incorporated micro-encapsulated phase change materials.
Pilehvar, Shima (2017). Investigating the different types of micro-encapsulated phase change materials on the mechanical properties of Geopolymer concrete.
Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena; Carmona, Manuel & Rodriguez, Juan F. (2017). Development of thermoregulating microcapsules with cyclotriphosphazene as a flame retardant agent.
Cao, Vinh Duy; Pilehvar, Shima; Salas-Bringas, Carlos; M. Szczotok, Anna & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2017). Smart Geopolymer Concrete Containing Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials for Passive Building Applications.
Cao, Vinh Duy; Pilehvar, Shima; Carlos, Salas Bringas; M. Szczotok, Anna & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2017). The Effect of Microcapsulated Phase Change Materials on Thermal and Mechanical properties of Geopolymer Concrete. Show summary
The energy consumption for heating and cooling of buildings increases every year. Improved t material technology can help reducing the energy consumption needed to keep a comfortable indoor temperature. By integrating microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM), which has a very high energy storage capacity within the phase transition temperature, the energy storage capacity of concrete can be significantly improved. This will facilitate improved passive building technology with reduced the energy consumption. Geopolymer concrete (GPC) is synthesized by alkali activation of aluminosilicate materials in amorphous form (industrial waste). Geopolymer concrete is much more environmentally friendly than Portland cement concrete, which has a negative effect on the environment due to emission of huge amounts of CO2. Therefore, the integration of MPCM to GPC provides a promising environmentally friendly material with a high energy storage capacity. However, knowledge regarding the effect of MPCM on the thermal and mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete is very limited. In this study, high thermal energy storage capacity materials were fabricated by mixing MPCM into geopolymer concrete (GPC). The effect of different type and concentration of MPCM on improving the thermal properties of GPC has been examined. Furthermore, the negative effect on the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete received special attention. Optimizing the effect of MPCM on geopolymer concrete to improve thermal properties and maintain the compressive strength of the geopolymer concrete at an acceptable level for building application is the main target of this study.
G. Sanfèlix, Susana ; Santacruz, Isabel; Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Ordonez, Luis M.; G. De la Torre, Angeles & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2017). Rheological performance of cement composites with Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials .
Szczotok-Piechaczek, Anna Maria; Serrano, A.; Carmona, Manuel; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena & Rodriguez, Juan F. (2017). Development of thermoregulating microcapsules having flame retardant properties for building applications.
Cao, Vinh Duy (2016). Micro-encapsulated Phase Change Materials in Concrete: summarization of data and discussion.
Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). Faseovergangsmaterialer i Betong.
Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). Hva skal til for å gjennomføre et forskningsprosjekt.
Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). Micro-encapsulated phase change materials in concrete.
Szczotok, Anna (2016). Progress in synthesis of thermoreagulating microcapsules: pilot plant reaction and flame retardant microcapsules.
G. Sanfèlix, Susana ; De la Torre, Ángeles G. & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). Low CO2 binders with Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials.
Szczotok, Anna (2016). Development of Microcapsules with Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Capability for Concrete Applications.
Cao, Vinh Duy (2016). Micro-encapsulated Phase Change Materials in Concrete.
Pilehvar, Shima (2016). Influence of micro-encapsulated phase change materials on the mechanical properties of Geopolymer and Portland cement concretes.
Pilehvar, Shima (2016). Investigating the mechanical behavior of Geopolymer and Portland cement concrete with incorporated microencapsulate-phase change material.
Pilehvar, Shima & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). The Effect of Micro-encapsulated Phase Change Materials in Liquid State on Properties of Geopolymer and Portland Cement Concrete.
Pilehvar, Shima (2016). Investigating the mechanical properties of Geopolymer concrete with micro-encapsulated phase change materials.
Pilehvar, Shima & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). The mechanical behavior of geopolymer and Portland cement concrete with micro-encapsulated PCM.
Szczotok, Anna; Carmona, Manuel; Rodriguez, Juan & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). Using fatty acids for developing thermal energy storage materials.
Szczotok, Anna; Carmona, Manuel; Rodriguez, Juan F. & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). Using fatty acids for money and energy savings.
Szczotok, Anna; Carmona, Manuel; Rodriguez, Juan F. & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2016). The effect of suspending agent type on thermal and physical properties of thermoregulating microcapsules.
Szczotok, Anna (2015). Progress in synthesis thermoregulating of microcapsules: Optimization of the micro-encapsulation process update.
Szczotok, Anna (2015). Progress in synthesis of thermoregulating microcapsules: Optimization of the micro-encapsulation process.
Szczotok, Anna (2015). Progress in synthesis of thermoreagulating microcapsules: encapsulation of different PCM and experimental designs.
Pilehvar, Shima (2015). Investigating the mechanical behavior of Geopolymer and Portland cement concrete.
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Published July 5, 2018 11:09 AM - Last modified Feb. 13, 2024 11:24 PM

Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials in Concrete

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