Characterization of supercooling suppression of microencapsulated phase change material by using DSC

Supercooling suppression of microencapsulated n-tetradecane was measured using differential scanning calorimetry. Results indicate that the degree of supercooling is positively affected by the amount and type of nucleating agent present in bulk and microencapsulated n-tetradecane which it is used as a phase change material (MPCM). Results also demonstrate that the melting point of the n-tetradecane is fairly independent of nucleating agent concentration (0 - 4%). Conversely, the latent heat of fusion of n-tetradecane decreases considerably with nucleating agent amount and the initiation of crystallization point is inversely proportional to cooling rate.