Modified trihydrate sodium acetate/expanded perlite composite phase change material for underfloor heating: research progress in the field of building and home decoration materials

Research Overview

According to Volume 133 of the Journal of Building Engineering (published on December 1, 2026), Yue Han、Jun Wang、Fuyu Qin、Tao Xu、Zhidong Li、Yi Yang、Weitao Shao、Jing Chen、Baosheng Shen The author has published a research paper titled ‘Development of modified sodium acetate trihydrate/expanded perlite composite phase change material for the floor heating’. This study focuses on the application of underfloor heating and develops a modified trihydrate sodium acetate/expanded perlite composite phase change material. From the perspective of the column field, this source belongs to the direction of insulation and functional building materials in construction and home decoration materials, involving the formulation design of phase change energy storage materials and building heating scenarios, which is in line with the focus of this column on material, formulation, and performance research.

Material System and Architectural Application Background

Sodium acetate trihydrate is a hydrated salt phase change material, while expanded perlite is often used as a porous carrier.

. The goal of combining the two is to load the phase change component into a porous mineral matrix, forming a composite phase change material that can be used for building components. As a part of the building heating system, underfloor heating has a clear demand for the thermal storage and release behavior of materials, and the research on such composite materials is therefore related to building energy conservation and indoor thermal environment regulation. In the field of construction and home decoration materials, PVC profiles, pipes, coatings, sealants and other products are exposed to indoor and outdoor environments for a long time, and weather resistance and stability are basic requirements. If phase change materials enter building components or underfloor heating systems, their long-term performance also needs attention. Antioxidants and light stabilizers are used in polymer based building materials to suppress aging, while the thermal cycling stability of phase change materials themselves belongs to another category of performance that needs to be verified. The composite phase change material scheme provided by this study has added a new technological path for material selection in building heating scenarios.

Significance for the polymer additive industry

Although this study focuses on hydrated salt/porous mineral composite phase change materials and does not directly involve polymer additives, its architectural application background intersects with the polymer additive industry.

. Plastic pipes, insulation layers, and packaging components may be involved in underfloor heating systems, which require weather resistance and stability support under long-term thermal cycling and lighting conditions. Antioxidants and light stabilizers are commonly used types of additives to improve the durability of building materials, and the introduction of phase change materials may alter the thermal history inside the components, thereby affecting the design ideas of the additive system. For PVC profiles and pipes, weather resistance and stability are always the focus of formula design; The combination of light stabilizers and antioxidants also affects the service life of architectural coatings and sealants. This study suggests that the development of building functional materials and polymer additives is not isolated, and the promotion of phase change energy storage materials in buildings may drive further research on packaging materials, carrier materials, and supporting additive systems.

Uncertainties to be aware of

The source text only provides the paper title, author, journal volume, and publication date, and does not provide specific formula ratios, phase change temperatures, latent heat values, cycle stability data, or underfloor heating system test results.

. Therefore, this article does not make judgments on the performance of the material, nor does it cite data that is not presented in the original text. Whether this study involves specific products such as polymer additives or PVC profiles, coatings, sealants, etc., is not specified in the source information. The relevant connections are only based on reasonable associations in the field of the column, and the full text of the paper shall prevail.

Information source:Development of modified sodium acetate trihydrate/expanded perlite composite phase change material for the floor heating， Organized by Herun Chemical.