Stability of Adsorbent Sheets Under Accelerated-Aging Tests for Open-Cycle Adsorption Processes

This study aims to assess the stability of silica gel/polymer composites designed for open-cycle air dehumidification, humidification, and heat storage by employing a comprehensive set of characterization methods. To evaluate their resistance to various environmental factors, the materials were subj...

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Main Authors: Emanuela Mastronardo, Stefano De Antonellis, Angelo Freni, Candida Milone, Luigi Calabrese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1023
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author Emanuela Mastronardo
Stefano De Antonellis
Angelo Freni
Candida Milone
Luigi Calabrese
author_facet Emanuela Mastronardo
Stefano De Antonellis
Angelo Freni
Candida Milone
Luigi Calabrese
author_sort Emanuela Mastronardo
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to assess the stability of silica gel/polymer composites designed for open-cycle air dehumidification, humidification, and heat storage by employing a comprehensive set of characterization methods. To evaluate their resistance to various environmental factors, the materials were subjected to a series of aging treatments: (i) repeated adsorption/desorption cycles under representative operational conditions; (ii) post-drying at 30 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C; (iii) immersion in water for 30 days; (iv) exposure to a salt–fog environment for 30 days; and (v) accelerated aging by alternation between wet and dry cycles. Prolonged exposure to liquid water significantly reduced the material’s stability, resulting in an 83% reduction in tensile strength after 30 days of immersion. However, discontinuous exposure to liquid water at low drying temperatures did not critically affect the material’s mechanical properties during wet/dry cycles. Furthermore, post-drying (performed at 22 °C and 50% RH) allows the recovery of mechanical performance, with a tensile strength reached comparable to those of the unaged composites. Similarly, adsorption/desorption cycles in water vapor did not trigger degradation in the material, with its water vapor adsorption capacity remaining comparable to the unaged material after 100 cycles. The results confirm the reliability of these composite materials as to their potential uses in open-cycle dehumidification, humidification, and heat-storage applications.
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issn 1996-1073
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spelling doaj-art-d60fd51ce2bd488792daf38b030be7712025-08-20T02:05:09ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-02-01185102310.3390/en18051023Stability of Adsorbent Sheets Under Accelerated-Aging Tests for Open-Cycle Adsorption ProcessesEmanuela Mastronardo0Stefano De Antonellis1Angelo Freni2Candida Milone3Luigi Calabrese4Department of Engineering, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Energy, Polytechnic of Milan, 20156 Milan, ItalyCNR ICCOM—Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, ItalyThis study aims to assess the stability of silica gel/polymer composites designed for open-cycle air dehumidification, humidification, and heat storage by employing a comprehensive set of characterization methods. To evaluate their resistance to various environmental factors, the materials were subjected to a series of aging treatments: (i) repeated adsorption/desorption cycles under representative operational conditions; (ii) post-drying at 30 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C; (iii) immersion in water for 30 days; (iv) exposure to a salt–fog environment for 30 days; and (v) accelerated aging by alternation between wet and dry cycles. Prolonged exposure to liquid water significantly reduced the material’s stability, resulting in an 83% reduction in tensile strength after 30 days of immersion. However, discontinuous exposure to liquid water at low drying temperatures did not critically affect the material’s mechanical properties during wet/dry cycles. Furthermore, post-drying (performed at 22 °C and 50% RH) allows the recovery of mechanical performance, with a tensile strength reached comparable to those of the unaged composites. Similarly, adsorption/desorption cycles in water vapor did not trigger degradation in the material, with its water vapor adsorption capacity remaining comparable to the unaged material after 100 cycles. The results confirm the reliability of these composite materials as to their potential uses in open-cycle dehumidification, humidification, and heat-storage applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1023adsorbent sheetsagingmechanical testopen-cycle adsorption processstability verification
spellingShingle Emanuela Mastronardo
Stefano De Antonellis
Angelo Freni
Candida Milone
Luigi Calabrese
Stability of Adsorbent Sheets Under Accelerated-Aging Tests for Open-Cycle Adsorption Processes
Energies
adsorbent sheets
aging
mechanical test
open-cycle adsorption process
stability verification
title Stability of Adsorbent Sheets Under Accelerated-Aging Tests for Open-Cycle Adsorption Processes
title_full Stability of Adsorbent Sheets Under Accelerated-Aging Tests for Open-Cycle Adsorption Processes
title_fullStr Stability of Adsorbent Sheets Under Accelerated-Aging Tests for Open-Cycle Adsorption Processes
title_full_unstemmed Stability of Adsorbent Sheets Under Accelerated-Aging Tests for Open-Cycle Adsorption Processes
title_short Stability of Adsorbent Sheets Under Accelerated-Aging Tests for Open-Cycle Adsorption Processes
title_sort stability of adsorbent sheets under accelerated aging tests for open cycle adsorption processes
topic adsorbent sheets
aging
mechanical test
open-cycle adsorption process
stability verification
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1023
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AT angelofreni stabilityofadsorbentsheetsunderacceleratedagingtestsforopencycleadsorptionprocesses
AT candidamilone stabilityofadsorbentsheetsunderacceleratedagingtestsforopencycleadsorptionprocesses
AT luigicalabrese stabilityofadsorbentsheetsunderacceleratedagingtestsforopencycleadsorptionprocesses