Latest Advances in PCMs (Phase Change Materials) for Thermal Regulation Applications: A Survey

Abstract

Phase change materials have a wide range of possible uses, including thermal energy storage and temperature adjustment. This research classifies PCMs into three distinct types: organic, inorganic, and eutectic. It also details their usage, side effects, and advantages. Researchers examine PCMs' latent heat, thermal conductivity, density, and melting point, among other thermophysical characteristics, with a focus on ways to enhance them, such as by including metal foams for enhanced heat transmission. Furthermore, macro, micro, and nano encapsulation methods are presented as the main techniques to make the PHM migration impossible, raise the PHM stability, and make the integration into the real-world system easier. The combination of numerical modeling advancements, phase transition monitoring, and experimental methods has demonstrated that PCMs could be widely applied in the insulation of buildings, thermal energy storage, and even the cooling of high-tech equipment. This review has indicated the need for future research directed toward the scalability, durability, and smart integration of PCMs to be able to exploit their full potential in being part of the sustainable energy solutions.