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Journal of Polymer & Composites Review Article

Nano-Silica Reinforced Crosslinked Biopolymer–PCM Composites for Improved Thermal Cycling Durability

  1. Narendra Pothula Department of Mechanical Engineering, VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad
  2. R. Sundar Department of Marine Engineering, AMET University, Chennai
  3. S. Shalini Department of Physics, R.M.D. Engineering College, Kavaraipettai
  4. Karanam Suresh Babu Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRKR Engineering College, Bhimavaram
  5. K. Hema Latha Department of Mechanical Engineering, Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad
  6. A. Parvathi Priya Department of Chemistry, R.M.K. Engineering College, Kavaraipettai
  7. Kurmana Premakumar Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering and Technology, Etcherla
  8. S. Savitha Department of Chemistry, St. Joseph's College of Engineering, Chennai
  9. Rajendiran M Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai

Abstract

Crosslinked biopolymer–PCM composites reinforced with nano-silica were developed to enhance thermal cycling durability, leakage resistance, and structural stability for advanced thermal energy storage applications. A starch-based biopolymer was chemically crosslinked using citric acid to create a stable polymer network, while paraffin was employed as the phase-change medium and nano-silica (1–4 wt%) served as a multifunctional inorganic reinforcement. FTIR analysis confirmed successful esterification between citric acid and the polymer backbone, indicated by the strong C=O stretching band at 1735–1740 cm⁻¹, while the intensified Si–O–Si vibration near 1080 cm⁻¹ verified uniform incorporation of nano-silica throughout the matrix. DSC results demonstrated that the composite containing 3 wt% nano-silica exhibited the highest latent heat of fusion (~128 J/g) and superior thermal reliability, retaining approximately 94% of its energy storage capacity after 500 thermal cycles, compared with only ~78% retention in the unfilled composite. TGA analysis further revealed significant enhancement in thermal stability, with the onset degradation temperature increasing from 212 °C (0 wt%) to 241 °C for the 3 wt% nano-silica sample. SEM micrographs highlighted a clear morphological evolution from porous, crack-prone structures in the unreinforced system to dense, continuous, and uniformly integrated morphologies with well-encapsulated PCM droplets in nano-silica-reinforced composites, resulting in more than 90% leakage suppression. However, excessive filler loading (4 wt%) led to particle agglomeration, reducing microstructural uniformity and latent heat performance. Overall, the synergistic combination of chemical crosslinking and nano-silica reinforcement yielded thermally robust, leakage-resistant composites well-suited for passive thermal management and long-term energy storage applications.

Keywords

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