Functionalization of cork agglomerate composite with pcm microcapsules after dbd plasma treatment

Abstract

This research intends to study the influence of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment on the adsorption of Phase Change Materials (PCM) microcapsules applied to cork agglomerate laminated with a polymer membrane. Several experimental techniques were used to evaluate cork and membrane surface modification after plasma treatment and the influence on the microcapsules adsorption, namely, Static and Dynamic Contact Angle, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Tensile Strength. The plasma treatment greatly increases the hydrophilicity of both materials, justifying that more microcapsules are adsorbed on this composite. Chemical and physical characterization of the cork agglomerate and polymer membrane confirmed significant surface alteration.