Preparation and thermal properties of WF/HDPE composites filled with microcapsules modified by polyethylene glycol

The phase change microcapsulates containing dodecanol(DA) were fabricated using melamine-formaldehyde (MF) or polyethylene glycol 200 modified melamine-formaldehyde (PMF) resin as the shell by in situ polymerization. Wood flour/high-density polyethylene (WF/HDPE) composites filled with MF shelled microcapsules (DA@MF) or PMF shelled microcapsules (DA@PMF) were prepared, respectively. The synthesized DA@PMF and DA@PMF filled WF/HDPE composites (DA@MF-WF/HDPE, DA@PMF -WF/HDPE) were characterized by infrared thermal imaging, DSC and TG analysis. The results show that the cooling and melting enthalpy of DA@PMF is increased by 35 J/g and 21.5 J/g, respectively, and the rapid mass loss temperature is delayed to 19.9℃; The thermal properties of DA@PMF-WF/HDPE indicate that DA@PMF are successfully incorporated into the WF/HDPE composites and there is little damage during the preparation process; DA@PMF -WF/HDPE are potential thermal energy storage materials based on their appropriate phase change temperature (27.2, 11.3℃), outstanding thermal enthalpy (31.6, 20.3 J/g) and perfect thermal stability (rapid mass loss at 256.9℃).