The Waterborne Symposium

Abstract
Phase-change coatings with Thermoresponsive Transparency for Building Temperature Regulation
Co-authors: Pramod Mishra, Kelli Stockmal, Giuseppe Ardito, Steven Van Dessel and Mingjiang Tao

A series of coatings containing solid-solid phase-changing polymeric matrices have been synthesized by photo-initiated polymerization of methacrylate-based precursors.  The transmittance of these coatings in the UV to IR wavelength range changes reversibly as a function of temperature, and has been utilized as a design parameter for the development of temperature regulating building enclosures.  The latent heat storage capacity of these materials can be controlled by tailoring their composition, crosslink density, and porosity.  Shape stable matrices with heats of melting surpassing 120 kJ/g and clear/opaque transmittance ratios larger than 80 can be prepared using this methodology.  A combination of finite element simulation and experimental data will be used to discuss the implementation feasibility of these thermoresponsive coatings in different types of building enclosures.