SATURATED FATTY ACID ESTER PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS AND PROCESSES FOR PREPARING THE SAME

The invention relates to a process of preparing saturated fatty acid esters suitable for use as PCMs (phase change materials). The process comprises the step of hydrogenating fatty acid esters that have been obtained by processing of a triglyceride-containing starting material. In preferred embodiments, the fatty acid esters that are to be hydrogenated have been obtained by transesterification of the triglyceride-containing starting material with an alcohol, preferably in the presence of catalyst. The invention also relates to PCMs comprising a mixture of saturated fatty acid esters derived from animal fat or vegetable oil or a blend of one or more animal fats and/or vegetable oils.