Development of Heat Storing Poly (acrylonitrile) Nanofibers By Coaxialelectrospinning

Abstract

New thermal energy storage materials were developed as poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) nanofibers with encapsulatedphase change materials (PCMs). Sixteen samples composed of PAN shells and PEG or PEGME cores, and onecontrol sample composed of only a PAN shell, were manufactured by coaxial electrospinning. SEM images re-vealed the formation of randomly distributed, distinct nanofibers with smooth surfaces and cylindrical shapesalong their lengths. FTIR results confirmed bicomponent nanofiber structures and TGA results demonstratedtheir thermal stabilities. Phase change performances of nanofibers were repeatedly examined by DSC analyzes;heating enthalpies ranged from 38 to 133 J g−1and from 29 to 60 J g−1for PAN-PEGs and PAN-PEGME samples,respectively, corresponding to good encapsulation efficiencies. These remarkable thermal energy storages wereachieved at different melting temperatures (−1 to 60 °C). Textile based sandwich structures containing threedifferent types of PAN-PCM nanowebs demonstrated enhanced thermal properties and buffering function againsttemperature changes in surrounding.