In this study, a form-stable lauric acid/expanded perlite (LA/EP) composite was prepared by absorbing

paraffin into porous networks of expanded perlite. The form-stable composite was characterized by

using Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning

electron microscope (SEM) techniques, durability and leakage test. Leakage test results showed that

optimum and maximum mass fraction of LA contained in the composite without leakage is 70 wt.%. The

FT-IR results revealed that there were physical interactions between the expanded perlite and the lauric

acid. In addition, SEM images showed that LA can be quite evenly dispersed in the porous skeleton of EP.

The melting temperature and latent heat of the form-stable EP/PA composite containing 70 wt.% lauric

acid were determined as 43.2 ?C and 105.58 J/g, presenting its suitable phase transition temperature,

sufficient latent heat, good thermal stability for application as composite phase change materials (PCMs).

The durability test showed that the leakage problems of PCMs composite can be greatly prevented because

of the interaction between the expanded perlite and the LA. All the results suggested that the form-stable

EP/PA composite has great potential in building applications for thermal energy storage