composite / Panelised / Phase Change Material
Phase Change Material (PCM) board (10mm, 15mm, 18mm, 25mm)
Gypsum3based boards with micro-encapsulated PCM to increase thermal mass and stabilize indoor temperatures.
Atlas code
COM-PNL-PCM-001
At-a-glance signals
Gypsum3based boards with micro-encapsulated PCM to increase thermal mass and stabilize indoor temperatures.
Overview
Executive summary
PCM boards integrate micro-encapsulated phase change material within a gypsum-based board to increase thermal storage capacity. Micronal PCM SmartBoard is supplied at 15 mm thickness with operating phase change temperatures around 23-26 C.
Best when…
- Lightweight alternative to conventional thermal mass
- Passive temperature regulation without mechanical systems
- Reduces HVAC cycling and energy consumption (25-35% savings)
- Improves thermal comfort and reduces temperature swings
- Suitable for retrofit applications
- No maintenance required
- 100+ year thermal performance lifespan
- Can achieve specific temperature set points
Top advantages
- 01 Lightweight alternative to conventional thermal mass
- 02 Passive temperature regulation without mechanical systems
- 03 Reduces HVAC cycling and energy consumption (25-35% savings)
- 04 Improves thermal comfort and reduces temperature swings
- 05 Suitable for retrofit applications
Top limitations
- 01 High initial cost ($55-110/m² vs $10/m² for insulation)
- 02 Requires sufficient diurnal temperature variation for recharge
- 03 Limited effectiveness in high humidity climates
- 04 No Australian fire test data (AS1530.4)
- 05 Performance Solution required for NCC compliance
Technical
Physical ·6
- Density
- 750-900 kg/m3 Typical range for PCM boards incorporating microencapsulated paraffin in gypsum or cement matrix. Varies by PCM content and carrier material. Manufacturer publishes mass per area: ~11.5 kg/m2 at 15mm = ~767 kg/m3. Source: BioPCM product data; Infinite-R TDS.
- Specific gravity
- 0.24-1.2
- Water absorption
- < 2 %
- UV resistance
- Requires protection // Polymer encapsulation degrades
- Chemical resistance
- Good // Inert encapsulated materials
- pH tolerance
- 5-9
Mechanical ·2
- Compressive strength
- 4.3-5.4 MPa
- Impact resistance
- Low // Requires protective covering
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·2
- Recycled content
- 0-100 % // BioPCM is 100% bio-based
- Renewable content
- 0-100 % // Varies by PCM type
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·3
- Ignition temp
- > 200 °C // °C for organic PCMs
- Flame spread index
- 0-25
- Smoke dev. index
- < 450
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·5
- Material cost (range)
- 55-110 // AUD per m²
- Material cost (per unit)
- 220-880 // AUD per board (2.4m × 1.2m)
- Lead time
- 4-8 weeks // International shipping
- Annual maintenance
- 0 // No maintenance required
- Market availability
- Limited // Special order required
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 50+ // years (100+ for thermal performance)
- Maintenance interval
- None // Maintenance-free
- Warranty period
- 10 // years typical
Layer D
Where it's used
Ceiling thermal mass in commercial offices
Passive cooling in school classrooms
Lightweight building retrofits
Modular and prefabricated construction
Heritage building thermal upgrades
Passive house projects
Hot spot mitigation in offices
Solar gain management in walls