PCM concrete under a microscope: an attempt at a smart fire insulation system

The mechanical and physical properties of concrete are significantly influenced by its morphology. This paper presents a microstructural analysis of concrete incorporated with phase change material (PCM). While concrete is a versatile material, its fire performance and adaptability to varying external conditions can be further enhanced. This research aims to develop a smart concrete that efficiently responds to fire scenarios using embedded PCM. An inorganic PCM with a phase change temperature of 230 °C was directly incorporated into the concrete, and the resulting microstructural changes were analysed. The PCM-incorporated concrete was examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and compared to standard concrete. Additionally, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were conducted to identify differences in chemical composition between concrete with and without PCM. SEM analysis revealed that the PCM particles were similar to fine aggregates, and XRD results indicated minimal changes to the chemical composition of the concrete. Thus, it can be concluded that embedding PCM in concrete could be an effective insulation system with minimal impact on the concrete’s microstructure.