DEVELOPMENT OF PCM BASED PACKAGING MATERIAL FOR THERMAL BUFFERING

The temperature maintenance plays crucial role in storage and transportation of perishable materials. A new composite material containing PCM (phase change material) absorbed in activated charcoal, PCM-AC is developed for maintenance of constant temperature inside a paper box (as per ASTM standards). The composite is made by absorbing commercially available PCM, OM-21 (melting point, 23 degrees C and latent heat of fusion 130 kJ.kg(-1)) over activated charcoal. DSC analysis of the composite indicates no variation in melting temperature i.e. 23 degrees C while the latent heat of fusion becomes 56 kJ.kg(-1). FTIR data shows no chemical interaction between activated charcoal and OM-21. The composite has been tested successfully to maintain temperature of 400g grapes inside a B-flute type corrugated box for 110 min. The mass of PCM-AC composite used was of 473g and was placed inside a bubble wrap liners along the inner wall of the box. The estimated cost of such box is similar to 3.0USD per piece. Besides reusability, this packaging solution is believed to fall under sustainable green technology and is expected to be highly economical.