FURI | Spring 2026

Experimental Study of Thermal Conductivity and Phase Change Behavior in Composite Organic Phase Change Materials

This project studies how conductive reinforcements, including graphite, carbon fiber, and copper metal foam, affect the thermal performance of organic phase change materials (PCMs), specifically n-octadecane and stearic acid. Composite designs are expected to increase thermal conductivity while preserving heat storage capacity, with reliability projected across 50 thermal cycles. These improvements support more efficient thermal energy storage (TES) in buildings and solar systems, reducing energy waste and advancing sustainable energy goals. Future work will employ Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Transient Plane Source (TPS) thermal conductivity to experimentally validate these findings and optimize designs for scalable production.