Synthesis and characterization of PCM-porous ceramic supported devices for active ventilated façades

In the building sector, over recent years it is ever more important the development of new solutions to improve energy efficiency and savings, particularly due to the demanding EU directive. The implementation of ventilated façades, on new and existing buildings, offers the possibility to reduce costs and promote the acoustic and thermal insulation. The thermal behavior of the external layer influences the building performances: for this purpose a ceramic foam based device was studies. The ceramic formulation was defined in order to be easily integrated within the existing tilesproduction process. Furthermore, a waste glass was added in order to evaluate recyclability and feasibility for ceramic foams. Given by the key role played by the porosity into the thermal conductibility definition, the effect of composition and process parameters on the ceramic properties were studied and optimized. The obtained materials were also thermally characterized. In order to achieve an higher thermal inertia, the possibility to incorporate a Phase Change Material into the ceramic body was investigated. The effect of different methodology of PCM-integration were compared, in order to pointing out the role of its dispersion into the definition of thermal behavior. A lab- size scale-up process was also performed until the demo obtaining.