Applications of sustainable polymer-based phase change materials in mortars composed by different binders

Eco-sustainable, low toxic and low flammable poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) was forced into flakes of the porous Lecce stone (LS), collected as stone cutting wastes, employing a very simple cheap method, to produce a "form-stable" phase change material (PCM). The experimental PCM was included in mortars based on different binders (hydraulic lime, gypsum and cement) in two compositions. The main thermal and mechanical characteristics of the produced mortars were evaluated in order to assess the effects due to the incorporation of the PEG-based PCM. The mortars containing the PEG-based PCM were found to be suitable as thermal energy storage systems, still displaying the characteristics melting and crystallization peaks of PEG polymer, even if the related enthalpies measured on the mortars were appreciably reduced respect to pure PEG. The general reduction in mechanical properties (in flexural and compressive mode) measured on all the mortars, brought about by the presence of PEG-based PCM, was overcome by producing mortars possessing a greater amount of binder. The proposed LS/PEG composite can be considered, therefore, as a promising PCM system for the different mortars analyzed, provided that an optimal composition is identified for each binder.