Abstract:

Cellulose lauric acid esters/polyethylene glycol (LACE/PEG) graft copolymer fibers with excellent phase change energy storage performance were successfully prepared by grafting PEG on LACE to obtain LACE/PEG graft copolymer solution, and electrospinning. The effect of  PEG content of the LACE/PEG solution on the fiber morphology,phase change energy storage properties, and the stress-strain characteristics were studied. Also, the usability and effectiveness of the prepared LACE/PEG graft copolymerization fibers were analyzed by washing and cycle thermal stability test. The results showed that the LACE/PEG solution with different PEG content all can be spun to obtain cylindrical fibers with smooth surface. However, the diameter and phase change enthalpy were increased, and the uniformity and mechanical properties of the LACE/PEG fiber were decline with the increase of PEG content in the spinning solution. Additionally, since the PEG and LACE both have phase change energy storage characteristics, and they couldn’t be washed out easily as they were linked by chemical bonds, the LACE/PEG fiber exhibited a completely reversible phase transition with high enthalpy, moderate temperature and good thermal cycle stability, indicating that it is an ideal phase change fiber with high use value.

Key words: electrostatic spinning, polyethylene glycal, cellulose lauric acid ester, grafted copolymer, phase change energy storage fiber