Developing Wallpaper/Dodecyl alcohol composite phase change materials as new kind of wall covering elements for building interior thermoregulation

This study introduces a novel wall-covering element consisting of wallpapers (WP) impregnated with Phase Change Material (PCM), with the aim of enhancing thermal properties and providing effective thermal regulation performance in interior spaces. The study conducts practical investigations into the thermal attributes of wallpapers (WPs) impregnated with Dodecyl alcohol (DDA) as the chosen PCM, culminating in a leakage-free WP/DDA wall covering element. The process of impregnating involved applying liquid DDA to the back side of the WP using a manual coating apparatus. Four distinct DDA ratios, ranging from 0% to 20% by mass of WP, were applied. The chemical compatibility of the developed WP/DDA composite was explored using Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal energy storage (TES) properties were assessed through Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) analysis, and the thermo-regulative performance of the WP/DDA composite was evaluated in laboratory-scale test rooms under real weather conditions. The DSCoutcomesexposed that melting temperature and latent heat capacity of WP/DDA were 21.78 °C and 26.9 J/g, respectively.The thermoregulation tests showed that the prepared WP/DDAsignificantly reduce interior room temperature fluctuation and can maintain indoor temperature longer in comfortable temperature ranges. The largest difference between the reference room and test room was observed to be about 2℃. The room temperature was cooler for about 9 h 53 min during day times for the DDA case.The results designated that the developed WP/DDA composite could be evaluated as a promising new kind of building wall covering element for reducing the cooling load of room.