Evaluating the Use of Phase Change Materials in Concrete Pavement to Melt Ice and Snow
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper investigates the potential use of phase change materials (PCM) in concrete pavements to store heat, which can be used to reduce ice formation and snow accumulation on the surface of the concrete pavement. The thermal properties of the PCMs are evaluated using a low-temperature differential scanning calorimeter (LT-DSC) while a longitudinal guarded comparative calorimeter (LGCC) is used to evaluate the thermal response of cementitious mortar containing the PCM. Paraffin oil (petroleum based) and methyl laurate (vegetable based) were selected as PCMs since they have high enthalpies of fusion () and have desirable freezing temperatures () during the liquid to solid phase transformation. Two approaches were used to place the PCM in the mortar specimens: (1) placing the PCM in lightweight aggregate (LWA) in mortar and (2) placing the PCM in an embedded tube that is placed in mortar. The durability and stability of the PCMs in the cementitious system were studied by monitoring the change in enthalpy of fusion, mass loss, pulse velocity, and compressive strength. When the PCM was placed in the mortar specimen using LWA, the paraffin oil can release a considerable amount of heat during phase transformation, which can be used to melt ice and snow. However, it was observed that the methyl laurate reacts with the cementitious matrix, causing damage to the mortar. Both paraffin oil and methyl laurate showed promising performance to melt ice and snow when the PCM was placed in an embedded tube in the mortar specimen.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through PEGASAS center as Heated Airport Pavements Project (Task 1-C) and the authors would like to acknowledge the support that has made its operation possible. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein, and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the FAA.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28 • Issue 4 • April 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 25, 2015
Accepted: Jul 31, 2015
Published online: Oct 6, 2015
Discussion open until: Mar 6, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2016
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