By Syifarida Muhamad Zaki
Photo by Saleha Haron
“These properties allow the phase change material to store the thermal energy when it melts and releases the energy when it solidifies,” he said.
“If it is used as passive or active building component, it can help in controlling the internal building temperature fluctuations which will result in thermal-comfort buildings.
“This will reduce dependency of building occupants to air conditioning or heating systems and electricity consumption, indirectly reducing carbon dioxide emission.
“NPCM can be incorporated into cement or paint as active insulation materials and apply to the ceilings or walls of the buildings,” he told a Press Conference during 2016 ITMA Innovation Day.
He also said if it is incorporated into building components, it will not give any adverse effect to the structure integrity of the buildings.
Elaborating, he said a study showed that the surrounding temperature in Malaysia is getting increasingly hot, torrid and humid with heavy usage of air-conditioning system among the people and this, indirectly had contributed to the increase in electricity consumption.
“In addition, most modern buildings are developed using light weight building material technology with low thermal inertia or low thermal mass.
“This causes the internal building to face large temperature fluctuations due to external heating or cooling load.
“The increasing demand for air-conditioning units will lead to further increase not only in electricity consumption but also cost of living,” he said.
NPCM research which took about two years to be completed last year was carried out by four researchers, led by Prof. Dr Mohd Zobir. The other three researchers are Dr Tumirah Khadiran, Prof. Dr. Zulkarnain Zainal and Dr Rafeadah Rusli. The encapsulation technology is ready to be commercialized. – UPM.
Date of Input: | Updated: | amir_peli
Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang ,Selangor
Contact List by Unit
Staff and Services