Characterization of 1-tetradecanol’s performance as a phase change material in thermally modified ash wood

Abstract

The use of phase change materials in thermally modified wood presents an innovative way to enhance the thermal properties of wood, contributing to energy efficiency and thermal comfort in various applications. However, careful consideration of the materials and methods used is essential to ensure the effectiveness and practicality of this technology. Phase change materials (PCM) can be integrated into thermally modified wood through various methods. One common method is impregnation, where the PCM is infused into the wood structure. Another method could be the application of PCM in coatings or finishes applied to the wood surface. In this study, 1-tetradecanol (TD) was used as a PCM and its effectiveness on thermally modified ash wood (TMA) was investigated. TMA has better thermal insulation properties, which are essential in energy storage applications to minimize heat loss. For this purpose, the leaching of TD from TMA was examined. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were examined. According to the results, there was a small amount of leakage in the leakage test. TGA analysis showed that TD/TMA left a lower residue of 16.30% at 800°C compared to the residue of 18.20% left by untreated thermally modified wood (TMA).