Thermal energy storage characterization of cementitious composites made with recycled brick aggregates containing PCM

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an experimental program on sustainable cementitious composites made with Recycled Brick Aggregates (RBAs) employed as carriers for Phase-Change Materials (PCMs). The PCM-RBAs were produced by following an advanced incorporation and immobilization technique, developed and patented at the Institut für Werkstoffe im Bauwesen – TU Darmstadt. Spherical mortar samples made of plain cement paste plus porous RBAs, filled with liquid paraffinic wax, were used for monitoring the thermal behavior of various combinations of PCM-RBAs. The experimental campaign also comprised mechanical tests aimed at observing the effect of PCM in the RBAs, on the resulting mortar strengths under both compression and bending. Promising results have been obtained for the RBA mortars, showing a high thermal energy storage capacity at an almost negligible and acceptable strength loss due to PCM addition.