Investigation of compatibility of organic and inorganic PCMs with the materials of containers.

Phase change materials (PCMs) are latent heat storage media that are still under development for various building applications. Because the PCMs store/release heat during the melting/solidification process they must be hermetically sealed in a proper container without the risk of leakage or loss of required mechanical properties. The compatibility of the PCMs with the material of the container is a very important issue in the lifespan of heat storage systems and their safety. In the experiments reported in the paper, the compatibility of two organic-based PCMs and two inorganic-based PCMs with three plastics was tested. All samples were subjected to periodical heating and cooling in a small environmental chamber. This contribution contains results from the long-term observation and evaluation of interaction of selected PCMs and materials of container immersed in the PCMs.