The direct incorporation of micro-encapsulated phase change materials in the concrete mixing process

The present study refers to a set of tests using different amounts of microencapsulated PCM directly mixed into self-compacting concrete. This SCC is investigated regarding its fresh and hardened properties. It will be shown that increasing PCM amounts lead to lower thermal conductivity and increased heat capacity, which both significantly improve the thermal performance of concrete structures. On the other hand, a significant loss in strength and a micro-structural analysis both indicate that a large part of the capsules cannot withstand the mixing process, which is a result of insufficient mechanical and chemical resilience of the encapsulating material