ABSTRACT
The study reported on some mechanical and flammability tests for the tiles, but primarily on some evidence of interactions between various polar polymers used for the tile matrix, and PCM (mixtures of saturated fatty acids). These interactions increase the surface tension between the fatty acids and the polymer matrix so that, when liquid, the fatty acids do not seep out of the tiles even with large pores. This allows a tile with no outside surface covering to impede heat transfer between the air and the PCM. Thus, the polymer serves as an internal packaging material rather than an external container, as well as a heat transfer aid.
