Phase change material cellulosic composites for the cold storage of perishable products: From material preparation to computational evaluation

Abstract: Warm temperature spikes represent one of the main spoilage causes of perishable good-stuffs. The development of packaging materials with thermal buffering properties represents a powerful solution to address the problems arising from an uncontrollable interruption during cold-chain logistic. Here, we propose the use of phase change material (PCM) composites for the design of cold storage packaging. Two different concentrations (25 and 50% w/w) of commercially available micro-encapsulated PCM were homogeneously dispersed in paper matrix via conventional negative filtration techniques. The possibility of obtaining composites with different latent heats in the 4–10°C range has been demonstrated via differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Heat transmission tests, simulating the heating processes typical of the removal from a cold room, were performed on a suitable multilayer configuration. The obtained materials show the ability to maintain the inner temperature for a duration up to 10-fold longer in time, when compared to a similar cellulose material with a thickness of 2cm. Experimental results have been numerically assessed by considering the material thermal parameters as homogeneous. Both experimental and computational approaches here discussed offer an easy way for the design of micro-encapsulated PCM–cellulose composite as building blocks in cold storage packaging design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]