Physical and mechanical characterization of cement boards with incorporation of free phase change materials

Abstract

Currently it is necessary to give a new direction to the construction sector, making it essential to change the way that buildings are constructed and rehabilitated, with the aim of obtaining a construction with greater sustainability value. To minimize energy consumption, it is important to take advantage of renewable energy sources like solar power. Phase change materials (PCM) can help reduce building energy consumption due to their energy storage capacity. PCM has been studied in different solutions for walls, ceilings, and floors, essentially using encapsulation techniques. The use of PCM in building materials has social, environmental, and economic benefits, including increased thermal comfort, decreased energy consumption from non-renewable sources, and reduced air conditioning needs and costs. The development of cement boards incorporating PCM brings a new option for the thermal improvement of buildings, which can be used in new buildings and rehabilitation operations. The main objective of this study was the development of cement boards with the incorporation of pure and free PCM, through direct incorporation, consisting of a simple, low-cost, and very promising incorporation technique. The results showed that the technique was easy to use in anufacturing cement boards for interior coatings of building walls and ceilings. It was also possible to observe a decrease in the water/cement ratio with the incorporation of CM and a consequent decrease in the porosity, which resulted in a slight reduction in its mechanical strengths, without ever compromising the necessary performance for its function.