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DIY Supermaterial Could Save You From Heatstroke: Salt based PCMs (www.youtube.com)

submitted 4 months ago by RoboGroMo@slrpnk.net to c/technology@slrpnk.net

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A simple mix of two cheap salts, Sodium Sulfate and Table Salt (Sodium Chloride) dissolved in boiling water can create a really useful Phase Change Material that has a melting point of 18c (65f) which allows it to be recharged back into it's cooling state simply by putting it in a basement and can then be used as a cooling blanket, back rest, neck pillow, etc to help keep you cool in hot weather. Longer lasting and less energy intensive to charge than an ice-pack.

In the video he talks about the potential for using a similar higher temp PCM behind solar panels to reduce efficiency loss or damage from over heating. It could also be a really interesting thing to use for transporting heat from where it's unwanted to where it's needed.

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[–] MonkderDritte@feddit.de 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Can't look videos, what is the recipe?

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

@Longpork3@lemmy.nz wrote down the recipe here.

1.2l water

240ml sodium sulfate

60ml sodium chloride

20ml xantham gum(optional for increased efficacy by keeping the solution homogenous)

Boil water, stir until fully dissolved, a small amount of solute should remain, if not, increase sodium sulfate concentration slowly until it does, indicating no free water molecules available for dissolution.

Solution should now be cooled to below 18c( freezing point) for an end product that will regulate temperature to 18c so long as it have sufficient(negative) thermal energy.

Solution of pure sodium chloride will have freezing point approx -20C, while solution of pure sodium sulfate has freezing point +35C. Adjusting the ratio of NaCl to Na2SO4 will shift the freezing point towards either end of thag spectrum, depending on what phase change temperature you are targetting.

[–] MonkderDritte@feddit.de 1 points 4 months ago

Thanks!

[–] Zombie@feddit.uk 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I was engrossed and believed everything he said right up to where he said those little hand warmers are great. They're pish. They require boiling water before every use and don't last all that long. Unfortunately, that makes me dubious about the rest of his claims.

[–] anothercatgirl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Energy wise, they last up to 60% as long as a block of ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a thin layer of foam so it doesn't frostbite you. The benefit is the ability to recharge them in the fridge or even in a cool place instead of the freezer.

also those hand warmers seem like they're bad because they're tiny not because their chemistry is flawed.