Method of containing a phase change material in a porous carbon material and articles produced thereby

1. A process for fabricating a carbon composite structure that is lightweight, structurally sound, and characterized by high heat capacity, comprising:

forming a carbon structure with at least one cavity therein;

placing a phase change medium within said cavity, said phase change medium demonstrating high energy absorption capacity, high thermal conductivity, and high void volume for phase change material retention; and

closing said phase change medium within said cavity to allow vapor diffusion and liquid containment.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said phase change medium is formed from a carbon fiber to establish a high porosity medium having a large volume fraction available for containment of phase change material.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said phase change medium is formed from a carbon foam to establish a high porosity medium having a large volume fraction available for containment of phase change material.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said phase change medium is an isotropic high porosity medium.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said phase change medium is an anisotropic high porosity medium.

6. The process according to claim 1 , further including the step of altering a surface energy of said carbon fibers of said phase change medium to enhance retention of phase change material.

7. The process according to claim 6 , wherein said surface energy is enhanced by deposition of at least one of a carbide and ceramic formed by thermal decomposition of a precursor gas containing at least one of silicon, tantalum, titanium, molybdenum and nickel.

8. The process according to claim 6 wherein said surface energy is enhanced by deposition of one of a metallurgical and ceramic coating by decomposition of a precursor gas containing at least one of silicon, tantalum, titanium and molybdenum.

9. The process according to claim 6 , wherein said surface energy is enhanced by electroless deposition of a precursor liquid containing at least one of silicon, tantalum, titanium, molybdenum and nickel.

10. The process according to claim 6 , wherein said surface energy is enhanced by electroplating with a plating solution consisting of at least one of silicon, tantalum, titanium, chromium, molybdenum and nickel.

11. The process according to claim 6 , wherein said surface energy is enhanced by etching said carbon fibers with at least one of gaseous water, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitric acid and peracitic acid.

12. The process according to claim 6 , wherein a phase change material retained by said high porosity medium is at least one of a lithium salt and a metal having a characteristic melting point.

13. The process according to claim 12 , wherein said metal is a low melting metal and comprises one of copper and aluminum.

14. The process according to claim 6 , wherein said phase change medium is formed from one of vapor grown carbon fibers and carbon foam.

15. The process according to claim 6 , wherein said surface energy is enhanced by a coating deposited thereon having a thickness of 1–1000 nanometers.

16. The process according to claim 15 , wherein said surface energy is enhanced by a coating deposited thereon having a coating volume fraction of between 0.001 and 0.1.

17. The process according to claim 15 , wherein said surface energy is enhanced by alteration at temperatures between 400° C. and 1200 C.