PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS AND USE THEREOF

The invention relates to a heat transfer composition comprising at least two members selected from the group consisting of: a) strontium hydroxide octahydrato; b) lithium hydroxide monohydrate; and c) non-hydrate forming chloride or nitrates, wherein for a mixture comprising a) and b) the composition contains from about 40 to about 60 mol % of one hydroxide hydrate relative to the other hydroxide hydrate and for a composition containing c) and a) or b), the composition contains from about 5 to about 40% by weight of c) based on the total weight of hydroxide hydrate. These mixtures have high caloric values and are useful for a variety of applications such as preheaters for car engine cooling water systems.