Supporting Novel Research in Phase Change Materials Analysis

Interview with Gabriel Rubio Pérez about His Research

Ph.D. Candidate and researcher Gabriel Rubio Pérez from the Energy Engineering group at The University of Burgos in Spain is innovating research into Phase Change Materials (PCM). He supports his research using Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) instruments from METTLER TOLEDO.

We caught up with Gabriel at the University of Burgos to talk about his research.

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What are some problems that you solved during your most recent project?

"Recently I have had to find a proper way to measure the thermal conductivity of the PCMs I work with. More precisely, how to stabilize the temperature steadily enough to obtain the thermal conductivity values at several temperatures. I’m using a thermal conductivimeter and placing the sample inside an oven to ensure thermal stability and temperature control. It’s working well so far. It takes a lot of patience and time, but the results are consistent and coherent, and that’s an essential part."

"I was at a dead end and in need of a new topic of research...
Three months solved my year-long problem, allowing me to retake my work on my Ph.D. with renewed hopes."
Ph.D. Candidate and Researcher Gabriel Rubio Pérez

Can you describe how you use instruments from METTLER TOLEDO in your research?

"The DSC is a fundamental device to measure the thermal properties of PCM, mostly the phase change temperature and enthalpy and the specific heat at both solid and liquid states. I have also used a TGA to determine the highest temperature at which the PCM degrades and stops being usable. With this result, I can determine the maximum temperature it can reach when used in a Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage system.

Any proper thermal analysis of phase change materials must report the results provided by the DSC. The properties it measures play a key role when designing a thermal storage system. Essential tools like the phase diagrams could not be produced without this information.

With high-quality measuring devices and intuitive analysis software, METTLER TOLEDO has helped me master these techniques and produce reliable results for the scientific community. Moreover, the knowledge I’ve acquired has allowed me to develop a new kind of diagram for the PCM that displays not only information concerning temperature but also time. This novelty of my Ph.D. research would have been impossible without this measuring equipment."

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How has METTLER TOLEDO helped you with your Ph.D. research?

"When I finished my first year of my Ph.D., I was at a dead end and in need of a new topic of research. This is quite a common event when starting a thesis. After several weeks of trying to find a way out, I had the opportunity to work abroad in a Swiss research group. That’s where I first worked with METTLER TOLEDO measuring devices, working on a project for METTLER TOLEDO itself. It was a fruitful stay in which I found a new topic for my Ph.D., thanks to the incredible people working there and the access to high-quality equipment. Three months solved my year-long problem, allowing me to retake my work on my Ph.D. with renewed hopes."