GEL COMPRISING A PHASE-CHANGE MATERIAL, METHOD OF PREPARING THE GEL, THERMAL EXCHANGE IMPLEMENT COMPRISING THE GEL, AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE THERMAL EXCHANGE IMPLEMENT

摘要

Gel including a phase-change material and a gelling agent. In one embodiment, the phase-change material may be n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane or mixtures thereof. The gelling agent may be a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 30:70 to 33:67% by weight. To form the gel, the phase-change material and the gelling agent may be mixed at an elevated temperature relative to room temperature to partially, but not completely, dissolve the gelling agent. The mixture may then be cooled to room temperature. Alternatively, the phase-change material and the gelling agent may be mixed at room temperature, and the mixture may then be heated to form a viscoelastic liquid, which is then cooled to room temperature. The invention is also directed at a method of preparing the gel, a thermal exchange implement including the gel, and a method of preparing the thermal exchange implement.

主权项

1. A gel comprising a phase-change material and a gelling agent, the gel being formed by (a) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at an intermediate temperature that is above room temperature but is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the gelling agent partially, but not completely, dissolves in the phase-change material, whereby a non-homogeneous mixture is produced, and (b) then, cooling the non-homogeneous mixture to room temperature.