raw · papers · ingested 2026-07-02
Shape-stabilized paraffin in porous/fumed silica — review (leakage, enthalpy penalty, opacity)
confidence: high
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7796474/
Source: Open access, PMC7796474. Peer-reviewed review. Credibility: High.
Key points
- ~9 wt% hydrophobic fumed silica eliminates paraffin leakage; loadings 60–90 wt%.
- Latent-heat penalty: composites deliver only 50–75% of theoretical enthalpy (immobilized pore-wall layer stores no latent heat).
- All opaque — disqualified for a translucent panel.
- Cheap, DIY-feasible via melt-mixing — but the opacity is the dealbreaker for glazing.
- Reinforces: for translucent + non-leaking, use gelled salt hydrate, not silica/graphite paraffin.