ARS | Publication request: Preparation, characterization, and thermal properties of starch microencapsulated fatty acids as phase change materials thermal energy storage applications

Submitted to: American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 3, 2009
Publication Date: May 3, 2009
Citation: Kenar, J.A. Preparation, characterization, and thermal properties of starch microencapsulated fatty acids as phase change materials thermal energy storage applications. American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting. Historical Perspectives on the Chemistry of Fats and Oils. p. 87.

Technical Abstract: Stable starch-oil composites can be prepared from renewable resources by excess steam jet-cooking aqueous slurries of starch and vegetable oils or other hydrophobic materials. Fatty acids such as stearic acid are promising phase change materials (PCMs) for latent heat thermal energy storage applications. However, for use in applications they require special containers since they change from solid to liquid during the energy storage period. We report the microencapsulation of fatty acids and commercial waxes into starch utilizing excess steam jet-cooking. The resulting dried starch-PCM composite powders were found to contain 1 to 10 micrometers droplets of PCMs and the properties such as the encapsulation ratio of PCM to starch for these starch-fatty acid composites were examined. Thermal characteristics such as melting and freezing temperatures and latent heats were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the results of these experiments and a discussion of the use of starch to encapsulate the PCMs will be presented.