Abstract

In a quest to reduce the high energy consumption by buildings, several initiatives have evolved in which the incorporation of phase change materials (PCM) into building materials has been shown to be effective by the science community. PCM are capable of capturing and releasing heat thereby maximizing the temperature supply. However, the incorporation of PCM into concrete have negative impacts on its strength due to the properties of the PCM. This review explored the effect of the use of PCM in concrete on its compressive strength with a focus on the role of the properties of PCM and methods of incorporation. Information gathered from the open literature shows that there's a reduction in the compressive strength of concrete with the incorporation of PCM, and the trend continues with an increase in the amount of PCM. However, with proper optimization and incorporation method, a negligible or acceptable reduction in compressive strength can be obtained while enhancing the thermal properties of the concrete