Synthesis of Microcapsules with Beeswax Core and Phenol-Formaldehyde Shell by Taguchi Method

Abstract

: The Taguchi method was used to evaluate effect of process parameters in microencapsulation process of beeswax with resorcinol modified phenol-formaldehyde shell. Orthogonal array of 5 3 was constructed to study effect of process parameters core to shell ratio, surfactant concentration and agitation speed on control parameter core content. The amount of core content is directly proportional to heat storing capacity of microcapsules. Surfactant concentration, core to shell ratio, and agitation speed were optimized at 3%, 1:1, and 800 rpm, respectively. The microcapsules synthesized with optimized process parameters values possessed spherical morphology and heat transition enthalpy 148.93 J/g within temperature range 35 – 62 °C.