Evaluating Long-term Thermal and Chemical Stability and Leaching Potential of Low-temperature Phase Change Materials in Concrete Slabs Exposed to Outdoor Environmental Conditions

Evaluating Long-term Thermal and Chemical Stability and Leaching Potential of Low-temperature Phase Change Materials in Concrete Slabs Exposed to Outdoor Environmental Conditions | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Evaluating Long-term Thermal and Chemical Stability and Leaching Potential of Low-temperature Phase Change Materials in Concrete Slabs Exposed to Outdoor Environmental Conditions Robin Deb, Mohammad Irfan Iqbal, Yaghoob (Amir) Farnam This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4457466/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study examined the potential of using PCM-integrated concrete slabs for long-term thermal-responsive applications in an outdoor environment condition. The objectives were: (i) to evaluate long-term thermal response, snow melting and freeze-thaw reduction efficiency of PCM integrated concrete slabs, (ii) to characterize the chemical stability of PCM in cement matrix, and (ii) to evaluate the possibility of PCM leaching into the cement matrix and subgrade soil of the slabs. The experimental program included: (i) outdoor experimentation using large-scale field concrete slabs, (ii) longitudinal guarded comparative calorimetric (LGCC) tests of cut-bar concrete specimens from field slabs and comparing them with lab-made samples, (iii) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic characterization of PCM in mortar and subgrade soil specimens from field slabs, and (iv) low-temperature differential scanning calorimetric (LT-DSC) tests to assess heat evolution properties of small-scale PCM-integrated concrete specimens and quantify the amount of PCM contamination in subgrade soil. Results presented varying degrees of effectiveness after three years of environmental exposure: Micro-encapsulated PCM (MPCM) concrete exhibited considerable success (i.e., ~50 %) in snow melting while PCM infused in lightweight aggregates (PCM-LWA) concrete failed to provide substantial snow-melting; moreover, both PCM-LWA and MPCM slabs showed diminished resistance to freeze-thaw cycles compared to the first-year winter cycle data. Factors contributing to efficiency loss are found to be shell degradation of microcapsules, potential leaching of PCM into subgrade soil (i.e., between 2 to 3 % wt. concentration), and effects of warm temperatures influencing the degree of evaporation, as evidenced with LGCC, FTIR and LT-DSC results. Strategies to enhance efficiency and stability include improved encapsulation techniques, and vascularization methods. Materials Engineering Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4457466","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":305237645,"identity":"9e6086ea-4d6c-442d-96ea-0b755451d420","order_by":0,"name":"Robin Deb","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAw0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFCC5OM/P1Qwg1iMBxgYmInRkpYgLXEGopJYLTkKErxtpGgxb89hMJCcZ53PL5F84ABDhXViAyEtMmfeHkgo3JZuObPnWMIBhjPphLVISOQlHJDcdtjA4HiPwQHGtsPEaMkxbOCdc9jA/jD/hwOM/4jTYszA2wC0hb2H4QBjAzFaeJ6lMUscSzeQOHPM4EDCsXRjwlrYk48xfqixNuCfkfzwAZAhS1ALKkggTfkoGAWjYBSMAlwAACpeP8JW8K99AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7105-3368","institution":"Drexel University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Robin","middleName":"","lastName":"Deb","suffix":""},{"id":305237687,"identity":"b8a91cce-6f77-475b-a496-edb575753fb8","order_by":1,"name":"Mohammad Irfan Iqbal","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Drexel University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammad","middleName":"Irfan","lastName":"Iqbal","suffix":""},{"id":305237719,"identity":"26400295-dbc7-4bd7-a233-90200ee999cb","order_by":2,"name":"Yaghoob (Amir) Farnam","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Drexel University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yaghoob","middleName":"(Amir)","lastName":"Farnam","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-05-22 01:13:02","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4457466/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4457466/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":61807415,"identity":"4444d9da-f5ec-46e6-8c2b-d1456add1b0e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-05 19:44:46","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1710720,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"AssessmentoflongtermstabilityofPCMRDYFMII.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4457466/v1_covered_75bc2207-acf1-435a-8f07-1a8139efc104.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eEvaluating Long-term Thermal and Chemical Stability and Leaching Potential of Low-temperature Phase Change Materials in Concrete Slabs Exposed to Outdoor Environmental Conditions\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Drexel University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4457466/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4457466/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study examined the potential of using PCM-integrated concrete slabs for long-term thermal-responsive applications in an outdoor environment condition. The objectives were: (i) to evaluate long-term thermal response, snow melting and freeze-thaw reduction efficiency of PCM integrated concrete slabs, (ii) to characterize the chemical stability of PCM in cement matrix, and (ii) to evaluate the possibility of PCM leaching into the cement matrix and subgrade soil of the slabs. The experimental program included: (i) outdoor experimentation using large-scale field concrete slabs, (ii) longitudinal guarded comparative calorimetric (LGCC) tests of cut-bar concrete specimens from field slabs and comparing them with lab-made samples, (iii) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic characterization of PCM in mortar and subgrade soil specimens from field slabs, and (iv) low-temperature differential scanning calorimetric (LT-DSC) tests to assess heat evolution properties of small-scale PCM-integrated concrete specimens and quantify the amount of PCM contamination in subgrade soil. Results presented varying degrees of effectiveness after three years of environmental exposure: Micro-encapsulated PCM (MPCM) concrete exhibited considerable success (i.e., ~50 %) in snow melting while PCM infused in lightweight aggregates (PCM-LWA) concrete failed to provide substantial snow-melting; moreover, both PCM-LWA and MPCM slabs showed diminished resistance to freeze-thaw cycles compared to the first-year winter cycle data. Factors contributing to efficiency loss are found to be shell degradation of microcapsules, potential leaching of PCM into subgrade soil (i.e., between 2 to 3 % wt. concentration), and effects of warm temperatures influencing the degree of evaporation, as evidenced with LGCC, FTIR and LT-DSC results. 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