METHOD FOR ENCAPSULATING HEAT STORAGE MATERIAL OF LATENT HEAT

PURPOSE: To obtain easily spherical capsules capable of deforming with the volume expansion of an inner heat storage material, by adding a heat storage material of latent heat to a solution containing a film-forming resin dissolved therein, heating the mixture to melt the above-mentioned heat storage material, cooling the solution to coagulate the material into spheres, and separating and drying the resultant spherical material. CONSTITUTION: A heat storage material of latent heat, e.g. Na2SO4.10H2O, is added to a solution containing a film-forming resin, e.g. polypropylene, dissolved in an organic solvent, e.g. xylene, undissolving the heat storage material, and the resultant mixture is heated to a temperature near the melting point of the above-mentioned heat storage material or above the melting point to melt the above-mentioned heat storage material. The resultant mixture in this stage is then cooled to the melting point of the above- mentioned heat storage material or below to coagulate the heat storage material into spheres. The coagulated spherical heat storage material is then separated from the solution and dried to form films of the resin on the surfaces of the spherical heat storage material. Thus, the heat storage material is encapsulated. If a metal (foil) powder is added to the above-mentioned resin solution, the heat response properties, etc. of the resin films is desirably improved.COPYRIGHT: (C)1985,JPO&Japio