Strength band
macro-encapsulated pouches; plasterboards with microcapsules
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength10
Heat resistance22
Fire performance24
Insulation52
Workability58
Circularity48
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Quick answers
Is Phase-change material non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: paraffin = combustible; salts vary. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Phase-change material insulate?
Thermal mark 52/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: low-to-moderate; often needs fins or graphite.
What is the density band?
~0.8–1.6 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: NASA / Telkes 1940s–70s; building PCM 2000s (United States / Germany).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 48/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
designed 18–28 °C for buildings
heat 22 · fire 24
Numbers below are bands used by working engineers, not live quotes. Tensile note: macro-encapsulated pouches; plasterboards with microcapsules.
Fire performance in this atlas is editorial. Real projects need the assembly report.
Mechanical
Stiffness
Modulus follows chemistry and orientation — not the marketing nickname.
Toughness
Crack growth, not peak stress, retires most real parts.
Fatigue / creep
Cyclic and time-dependent damage dominate certificates issued on static coupons.
Hardness / hand
Indentation, drape or compressive class — whichever the trade actually measures.
Thermal
Conductivity
low-to-moderate; often needs fins or graphite — Phase-change material is not a substitute for a dedicated λ layer.
Service temperature
Melting / softening / decomposition band: designed 18–28 °C for buildings.
Expansion
Joints and clearances must follow the expansion class of Phase-change material, not of steel-by-habit.
Thermal mass
Density ~0.8–1.6 g/cm³ sets how fast a section changes temperature.
Ageing of λ
Foams, VIPs and moist batts drift; quote aged values.
Electrical
Conductor or dielectric
Phase-change material is generally a dielectric or semiconductor film, not building wire.
Static / EMI
Fillers and moisture change resistivity more than brochures admit.
Standards language
IACS, volume resistivity or dielectric strength — pick the quantity the job uses.
Fire
Reaction to fire
Typical declared class: paraffin = combustible; salts vary. This is not a universal passport.
Resistance vs reaction
Euroclass is reaction. EI/R ratings are assemblies — boards, coats, cavities.
Melt-drip / char
Phase-change material can burn or drip; do not treat it as A1 without a system test.
Smoke / toxicity
CO, HCN, HF or fibres — the species depend on chemistry. Name the test (ISO 5659, EN 45545, NFPA 1971).
If a salesperson quotes a single “safety score”, ask which standard, which thickness, which year.
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