High interface compatibility and phase change enthalpy of heat storage wood plastic composites as bio-based building materials for energy saving

Phase change materials (PCMs) is one of the most efficient and reliable methods to store latent heat and reduce energy consumption. This work focused on heat-storage bio-based building materials for energy-saving using encapsulate poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)/organic diatomite (O-Dt) as the latent heat storage agents, and wood fiber (WF)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as the matrix. PEG was encapsulated into the porous structure of Dt, and the obtained form-stable PCM has desired great interface action, high latent heat (105.35 J/g), good packaging capability, and excellent thermal stability. The heat-storage WPCs incorporated with form-stable PCM possessed considerable thermal storage capacity (60.42 J/g) and temperature-regulating ability (12 °C–15 °C). The thermal conductivity of WPC-20% was increased by 26.7% than WPC-0%. The mechanical strength and hydrophobicity of WPCs were increased when the loading percentage of PCM was 5%. Thermal cycling test results demonstrated that the heat storage WPCs had considerable heat storage reliability and chemical stability. The satisfying latent heat capacity and acceptable mechanical strength indicated the heat-storage WPCs could be potentially utilized as building materials for low carbon and energy conservation.