title: Epoxy-Based Organogels for Thermally Reversible Light Scattering Films and Form-Stable Phase Change Materials.
abstract: Alkyl chains of β-hydroxyesters synthesized by the capping of terminal epoxy groups of diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with palmitic (C16), stearic (C18), or behenic (C22) fatty acids self-assemble forming a crystalline phase. Above a particular concentration solutions of these esters in a variety of solvents led to supramolecular (physical) gels below the crystallization temperature of alkyl chains. A form-stable phase change material (FS-PCM) was obtained by blending the ester derived from behenic acid with eicosane. A blend containing 20 wt % ester was stable as a gel up to 53 °C and exhibited a heat storage capacity of 161 J/g, absorbed during the melting of eicosane at 37 °C. Thermally reversible light scattering (TRLS) films were obtained by visible-light photopolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate-ester blends (50 wt %) in the gel state at room temperature. The reaction was very fast and not inhibited by oxygen. TRLS films consisted of a cross-linked methacrylic network interpenetrated by the supramolecular network formed by the esters. Above the melting temperature of crystallites formed by alkyl chains, the film was transparent due to the matching between refractive indices of the methacrylic network and the amorphous ester. Below the crystallization temperature, the film was opaque because of light dispersion produced by the organic crystallites uniformly dispersed in the material. Of high significance for application was the fact that the contrast ratio did not depend on heating and cooling rates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), University of Mar del Plata and National Research Council (CONICET) , J. B. Justo 4302, B7608FDQ Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), University of Mar del Plata and National Research Council (CONICET) , J. B. Justo 4302, B7608FDQ Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ignacio E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Dell' Erba
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), University of Mar del Plata and National Research Council (CONICET) , J. B. Justo 4302, B7608FDQ Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Walter F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), University of Mar del Plata and National Research Council (CONICET) , J. B. Justo 4302, B7608FDQ Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cristina E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4352-4467
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), University of Mar del Plata and National Research Council (CONICET) , J. B. Justo 4302, B7608FDQ Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Roberto J J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Williams
keywords: epoxy-acid reaction; fatty acid; form-stable phase change material; supramolecular gel; thermoreversible light scattering film