Phase Change Material
High-performance latent heat storage for flexible applications
va-Q-tec has been developing customized PCM solutions for over 15 years. The company sets standards, particularly in the field of battery casings and foil blisters: These compact and flexible formats enable the use of PCM directly where constant temperatures are required – for example, in transport boxes, containers, or as an integral part of cooling systems.
Thanks to their handy size (as hard or soft shells), battery cases and blister packs are extremely versatile and can be adapted precisely to the respective application. This makes them the first choice for temperature-controlled transport of pharmaceuticals, sensitive foodstuffs, or in battery management.
For larger filling quantities, va-Q-tec also offers standard packaging such as drums or IBCs, which can be ordered according to application requirements.
Cold and Heat Storage Elements
Innovative PCM technology by va-Q-tec
- PCM products in a wide range of types, covering a temperature range from -67 °C to +37 °C, with high latent heats of typically > 200 J/g. Other temperature ranges are available upon request.
- Large portfolio of shell geometries and shell materials. PCM shells (hard and soft shell) are available in volumes ranging from 0.2 l to 6 l.
- Customized PCM for applications beyond the TempChain range: PCM with tailored properties (viscosity, thermal conductivity, or flammability) are available for applications in the construction sector, for thermal energy storage (power-to-heat), for battery thermal management, or for HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) applications.
- Plant-based PCM materials made from certified, sustainable raw materials (Bio-PCM)
In addition, all our PCMs are manufactured in Germany and are subject to extensive quality control.
Phase Change Materials (PCM) are innovative functional substances capable of absorbing or releasing vast amounts of heat or cold during their phase transition (e.g., from solid to liquid). The unique feature of these materials is that this energy storage process occurs within a very narrow temperature range around their phase change temperature. Consequently, they outperform conventional, sensible storage materials—such as traditional hot water storage tanks—by a multiple.
Sensible heat storage: These media (e.g., water) store energy purely through a noticeable and measurable change in temperature—the material simply gets hotter or colder.
Latent heat storage (PCM): These storage systems utilize what is known as “latent” (meaning hidden) heat. When the PCM reaches its phase change temperature, it stores or releases energy directly through the change in its state of matter. During this phase transition, the measurable temperature of the medium itself remains virtually constant. This provides you with extremely stable temperature control without fluctuations.
A primary area of application for phase change materials is the passive, temperature-controlled transport of sensitive goods (TempChain). Within logistical supply chains, PCM materials make it possible to maintain a perfectly constant temperature inside transport boxes for several days. Since the thermal energy is buffered directly within the material, the system operates entirely without any external power supply. This guarantees maximum reliability and efficiency during the global transport of temperature-critical goods (such as pharmaceuticals or food products).