PLA aerogel based phase-change composites for thermal energy storage and heat management

This improved shape-estabilized and leak-resistant composite PCM based on an aerogel of polylactic acid (PLA) with a porosity around 90% acts as scaffold for the solid-liquid phase-change materials. The resulting composite PCMs present phase change enthalpies of 100-250 J/g, depending on the PCM used and a phase-change temperature comprised between -20 and 80 ˚C. Thanks to the manufacturing process and the possibility to include additives in the formulation, the composite PCM is protected from external environments, it is capable of managing volume changes, it mitigates phase separation and sedimentation problems and it has low flammability.