Cellulose-Metal Foam Hybrid Phase Change Material Composites With Reduced Metal Content for Lightweight Heat Storage

Elliot Lascelles; Mohammad Arqam; Jack Panter; Helena  Navarro; Stefano Landini

Cellulose-Metal Foam Hybrid Phase Change Material Composites With Reduced Metal Content for Lightweight Heat Storage

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Abstract

This work investigates whether shape stabilisation and thermal performance in phase change material (PCM) composites can be independently optimised to produce lightweight, cost-effective thermal energy storage materials. A hybrid composite comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG-1000) as the latent heat storage medium, carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC) to address leakage, and aluminium open-cell foams for thermal conductivity and mechanical reinforcement was developed. This approach aims to retain the benefits of metal foams while minimising the proportion of material not contributing to heat storage. Thermal conductivity increased with pore density (PPI), reaching ~2.2 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, while specific heat was mainly governed by relative density (RD). A key performance index identified 20 PPI 4-6% RD as the optimal architecture.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 8 Sept 2026
Event	19th UK Heat Transfer Conference - Newcastle University, Newcastle , United Kingdom Duration: 6 Sept 2026 → 9 Sept 2026 Conference number: 19 https://conferences.ncl.ac.uk/ukhtc19/

Conference

Conference	19th UK Heat Transfer Conference
Abbreviated title	UKHTC2026
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Newcastle
Period	6/09/26 → 9/09/26
Internet address	https://conferences.ncl.ac.uk/ukhtc19/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Access to Document

Cellulose-Metal Foam Hybrid Phase Change Material Composites With Reduced Metal Content for Lightweight Heat StorageFinal published version, 521 KBLicence: CC BY

Composite Phase Change Material for Latent-Heat Thermal Energy Storage applications
Landini, S. (Principal Investigator)
Royal Society
1/03/25 → 28/02/26
Project: Research

Cite this

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abstract = "This work investigates whether shape stabilisation and thermal performance in phase change material (PCM) composites can be independently optimised to produce lightweight, cost-effective thermal energy storage materials. A hybrid composite comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG-1000) as the latent heat storage medium, carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC) to address leakage, and aluminium open-cell foams for thermal conductivity and mechanical reinforcement was developed. This approach aims to retain the benefits of metal foams while minimising the proportion of material not contributing to heat storage. Thermal conductivity increased with pore density (PPI), reaching \textasciitilde{}2.2 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, while specific heat was mainly governed by relative density (RD). A key performance index identified 20 PPI 4-6\% RD as the optimal architecture.",

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T1 - Cellulose-Metal Foam Hybrid Phase Change Material Composites With Reduced Metal Content for Lightweight Heat Storage

AU - Lascelles, Elliot

AU - Arqam, Mohammad

AU - Panter, Jack

AU - Navarro, Helena

AU - Landini, Stefano

N1 - Conference code: 19

PY - 2026/9/8

Y1 - 2026/9/8

N2 - This work investigates whether shape stabilisation and thermal performance in phase change material (PCM) composites can be independently optimised to produce lightweight, cost-effective thermal energy storage materials. A hybrid composite comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG-1000) as the latent heat storage medium, carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC) to address leakage, and aluminium open-cell foams for thermal conductivity and mechanical reinforcement was developed. This approach aims to retain the benefits of metal foams while minimising the proportion of material not contributing to heat storage. Thermal conductivity increased with pore density (PPI), reaching ~2.2 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, while specific heat was mainly governed by relative density (RD). A key performance index identified 20 PPI 4-6% RD as the optimal architecture.

AB - This work investigates whether shape stabilisation and thermal performance in phase change material (PCM) composites can be independently optimised to produce lightweight, cost-effective thermal energy storage materials. A hybrid composite comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG-1000) as the latent heat storage medium, carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC) to address leakage, and aluminium open-cell foams for thermal conductivity and mechanical reinforcement was developed. This approach aims to retain the benefits of metal foams while minimising the proportion of material not contributing to heat storage. Thermal conductivity increased with pore density (PPI), reaching ~2.2 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, while specific heat was mainly governed by relative density (RD). A key performance index identified 20 PPI 4-6% RD as the optimal architecture.

M3 - Paper

T2 - 19th UK Heat Transfer Conference

Y2 - 6 September 2026 through 9 September 2026

ER -

Cellulose-Metal Foam Hybrid Phase Change Material Composites With Reduced Metal Content for Lightweight Heat Storage

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Projects

Composite Phase Change Material for Latent-Heat Thermal Energy Storage applications

Cite this