STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Journal of Polymer & Composites Original Research

Exploration of Copper Oxide PVA/PEG Paraffin Polymer Composites for Enhanced Thermal Performance of Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials and Their Environmental Impact

  1. Dipti Tiwari Department of Applied Sciences United Institute of Technology, Prayagraj
  2. Santosh k Singh Department of Mechanical Engineering, United Institute of Technology, Prayagraj
  3. Monika Yadav Faculty of Engineering and Technology Department of Applied Sciences Rama University, Kanpur
  4. Sarojni Rai Faculty of Engineering and Technology Department of Applied Sciences United University, Prayagraj
  5. Sanjay Srivastava Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, United Institute of Technology, Prayagraj

Abstract

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles integrated into polymer-based paraffin wax composites for advanced thermal management applications. CuO nanoparticles were synthesized using a wet chemical approach and characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS), confirming their crystalline structure, morphology, and nanoscale size distribution. The synthesized nanoparticles were incorporated into polymer-supported phase change materials (PCMs) using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as polymer matrices, with paraffin wax serving as the base phase change material to form polymer wax (PW) composites. PVA and PEG were selected due to their excellent film-forming ability, flexibility, thermal stability, and compatibility with metal oxides. The polymer network significantly enhanced nanoparticle dispersion, reduced agglomeration, and improved composite stability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed improved thermal stability, increased heat storage capacity, reduced supercooling, and enhanced thermal conductivity in the polymer–CuO composite-based nano-enhanced PCMs (NEPCMs). The polymer matrix also strengthened the mechanical integrity of the composites and minimized leakage during repeated thermal cycles, making them suitable for long-term thermal energy storage applications. Beyond thermal performance, the developed CuO–PVA/PEG–paraffin composites offer significant environmental benefits. Their eco-friendly synthesis, reusability, and energy-efficiency improvements reduce reliance on conventional synthetic coolants, which contribute to environmental and aquatic pollution. This is particularly relevant for environmentally sensitive regions such as the Ganga River basin, where minimizing chemical discharge is critical. By supporting clean energy technologies and reducing carbon emissions, these polymer–CuO NEPCMs contribute to sustainable thermal management solutions for green buildings, solar energy systems, and waste heat recovery applications.

Keywords

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