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• Published Subscription Original Research 13 Sep 2025

  Polymer–Gel Composite Phase Change Materials: A Functional Polymer Composite Approach for Solar-Thermal Energy Storage in Building Facades

  By M. Balaji, K. Dilip Kumar, Kiran A. Dongre, Ajay Veludurthi, R. Sethuraman, Peyyala Pramod Kumar, Baddepudi Malathi, G. Nixon Samuel Vijayakumar, Zakir Hussain

  Abstract: This study investigates polymer–composite phase change materials (PCMs) in the form of polymer–gel hybrids as multifunctional systems for solar–thermal energy storage in building façades. Paraffin- and PEG-based PCMs were embedded into polyurethane and acrylic gel matrices to create shape-stabilized polymer–composites with high PCM loading (70–80 wt%). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) confirmed distinct melting/freezing transitions at ~56°C (paraffin) and ~42°C (PEG), with enthalpy values of 120–150 J/g, closely matching theoretical predictions, …

  Published in Journal of Polymer & Composites · Vol. 13, Issue 6, 2025 · pp. 36–51 Read article →