Microencapsulated n-alkanes as energy- storage materials have promising application prospects. The ndcrocapsules containing 100 - 50 wt% of n - octadecane, 0 -20 wt% of paraffin and 0 - 30 wt% of cyclohexane were synthesized by in-situ polymerization using melamine- formaldehyde polymer as shell. Cyclohexane was removed after heat-treated the microcapsules at 100℃. The morphologies, cell parameters, phase change properties, thermal stable temperatures of these microcapsules were examined. The diameters of these microcapsules are lower than 5 μm. The effect of paraffin in the microcapsules on the cell parameters of n-octadecane is negligible. The paraff＇m is effectively used as a nucleating agent to decrease the degree of supercooling. The melting enthalpy is decreased from 132 J/g to 111 J/g due to the increase of the cyclohexane contents. The thermal stable temperature is enhanced 6 - 16℃ after heat-treated the microcapsules at 160℃ for 30 min.
Acryionitrilv-methyi mcthacrylate copolymer was synthesized in aqueous solution by Redox. The copolymer was mixed with 10 - 40 wt% of microencapsulated n-octadecane （MieroPCMs） in water. Copolymer films containing Mi- eroPCMs were cast at room temperature in N, N- imethyiformamide solution. The copolymer of acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate and the copolymer films containing MicroPC- Ms were characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy （FTIR）, Differential Scanning Calorimetry （DSC）, Thermosravimetrlc Analyzer （TG）, X-ray Diffraction （XRD） and Scanning Electron Microscopy （SEM）, etc. The mierocapsules in the films are evenly distributed in the copolymer matrix. The heat-absorbing temperatures and heat-evolving temperatures of the films are almost the same as that of the MieroPCMs, respectively, and fluctuate in a slight range. In addition, the enthalpy efficiency of MieroPCMs rises with the contents of MicroPCMs increasing. The crystallirdty of the film increases with the contents of MicroPOMs increasing.
