The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) can absorb and release heat during phase transitions without a change in temperature, making them useful for thermal management. However, organic PCMs typically suffer from low thermal conductivity and leakage, limiting their practical use. In this work, we present a PCM composite incorporating a highly interconnected network of thermally conductive hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) fillers to address these challenges. The composite is fabricated by blending h-BN with two immiscible organic PCMs in the molten state, forming a Pickering emulsion that solidifies upon cooling. This induces a 2D filler network that improves thermal conductivity (~20.2 W/m·K) and maintains structural stability above both PCMs' melting points. Compared to single-PCM composites, the material shows improved heat transfer and thermal stability. This strategy offers a promising pathway for advancing the performance and reliability of PCM-based thermal regulation systems.