raw · papers · ingested 2026-07-02
Carboxymethyl-cellulose-thickened Glauber's-salt PCM (gelled salt hydrate)
confidence: high
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11122830/
Source: Open access, PMC11122830. Peer-reviewed, full recipe given. Credibility: High — reproducible home recipe.
Key points
- Gelled salt hydrate: Na₂SO₄·10H₂O (Glauber’s salt) + carboxymethyl cellulose → 3D gel that pins salt+water, stopping phase separation.
- Best formula: low-MW CMC-90 at ~11 wt% → 130 J/g retained after cycling, zero supercooling. High-MW CMC broke on salt addition.
- Recipe: heat stoichiometric water to 50 °C; stir in CMC at 800 rpm 30 min; add salts sequentially; cool; refrigerate overnight.
- Penalty: modest — retains ~108–130 J/g vs ~180 J/g theoretical; stays translucent.
- The DIY clarity sweet spot: leak-free + still see-through, unlike silica/graphite-stabilized paraffin (opaque).