Effect of phase change materials on the hydration reaction and kinetic of PCM-mortars

The phase change materials are considered an attractive way to reduce energy consumption thanks to their heat storage capacity. Their incorporation in the construction materials allows the energy to be an integral part of the building structure. Even though PCMs have shown their reliability from a thermal point of view, some drawbacks linked to their use were emphasized such as the loss of the compressive strength of the PCM-material. This paper attempts to provide an explanation by the investigation of the hydration kinetic of PCM-mortars. The semi-adiabatic Langavant test was adapted to this case. The numerical diffuse element method was used for the computation of the heat flux, which is a compulsory step for the determination of the hydration degree. The results showed a lower heat released by the PCM mortars compared to a control mortar as well as a delay in the hydration progress with the addition of PCMs.