Commodity
Index-linkedBulk Phase-change material follows a global index more than a boutique mill.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength10
Heat resistance22
Fire performance24
Insulation52
Workability58
Circularity48
LessMore
Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Phase-change material non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: paraffin = combustible; salts vary. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Phase-change material insulate?
Thermal mark 52/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: low-to-moderate; often needs fins or graphite.
What is the density band?
~0.8–1.6 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: NASA / Telkes 1940s–70s; building PCM 2000s (United States / Germany).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 48/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
designed 18–28 °C for buildings
heat 22 · fire 24
Prices are bands. A 2024 coil is not a 2026 contract. Labour and certification often dwarf the commodity.
Producers listed are landmarks for orientation, not a ranking or a procurement list.
Cost bands
Specified grade
PremiumTight chemistry, cleanliness or certification multiplies the unit price.
System
InstalledBoards, coats and labour dwarf kilogram prices.
Certified / medical / aero
HighestPaperwork is the product.
Trial / green route
PolicyLow-carbon or bio routes still trade on certificates.
Regions
East Asia
Volume production and finishing.
Europe
Standards (EN, Euroclass) and specialty.
North America
ASTM / NFPA language and large domestic mills.
Korea / Japan
High-spec sheet, fibres, electronics-adjacent ceramics.
Resource belts
Ore, plantations or energy that feed primary routes.
Global trade
Phase-change material moves as coils, bales, boards or chemicals — check HS codes, not vibes.
Key numbers
~0.8–1.6 g/cm³Density
low-to-moderate; often needs fins or graphiteThermal
paraffin = combustible; salts varyFire letter
52Atlas insulation
Producers
BASF Micronal heritage
Microcapsules.
Rubitherm
German PCM.
Croda
Bio PCMs.
Croda / Entropy
Building packs.
Pluss / India
Salt hydrates.
PureTemp
US bio.
Ask for the route (primary, scrap, bio) before believing a green label.
Keep exploring
More in Thermal
🪨
Mineral wool
Melted rock or glass spun into A1 batts — the default non-combustible insulation of codes.
Overall 69 🧽Polyurethane foam
The low-λ organic foam of fridges and buildings — excellent insulation, a fire design problem unless PIR and coverings are honest.
Overall 46 📦Vacuum insulated panel
A sealed vacuum sandwich — λ around 0.004–0.008 W/m·K until the envelope leaks.
Overall 44