THE SEARCH FOR NOVEL ENERGY-STORAGE MATERIALS USING DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY

The use of energy storage materials (ESM) has been demonstrated for passive heating and some passive cooling applications. As detailed in a previous paper the fatty acid materials investigated were found wanting in several capacities including odor and amount of heat stored. Further, differential scanning calorimetry has been shown to be an excellent method for determining the desired thermal properties. This paper begins a search for new ESM materials which are not organic acids and which have higher latent heats of melting/freezing and more desirable esthetic properties. Six classes of compounds not previously investigated were represented in the study including: hydrocarbons, ethers, alcohols, ketones, halogenated species and polymers.