DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF A NOVEL KIND OF SMART THERMOTROPIC MATERIAL

Abstract

Thermally induced switching temperature and spectral transmittance of a novel kind of smart thermotropic material developed by a different mixing proportion of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), sodium chloride ( NaCl ) and pure water was measured. Radiation transmittance measurements were carried out on a thermotropic double glazing window sample, a double glazing window and a low-E double glazing window. Results show that the thermotropic double-glazed window with optimum mixing proportion of HPMC, NaCl and pure water of 2:10:100 by mass-reduces radiation transmittance at fully turbid state by up to 72% and 32% respectively, compared to the ordinary double-glazed window and low-E double-glazed window which do not have adjustable radiation transmittance; its radiation transmittance changed from transparent state to light scattering state up to 60%, indicating a high performance on switching solar radiation and a great potential for energy efficient windows.