{
  "abstract": "The thermal performance of a building envelope is closely related to its energy consumption. Merging industrial by-products like fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA) with phase change material (PCM) concrete unlocks a pathway to significantly enhanced thermal insulation properties for envelopes. This study investigated the effects of two different proportions of industrial by-products (5%−15% RHA and 10%−30% FA) on PCM concrete. The test results show that, at the same dosage, RHA is superior to FA in reducing thermal conductivity, especially at an incorporation rate of 15% RHA. Adding 15% RHA and 30% FA resulted in a 2.3 °C increase in the minimum temperature of the PCM concrete. Moderate RHA and FA resulted in a more uniform pore distribution and finer pore size. With increasing RHA content, the capillary pore volume increased and the fractal dimension decreased. In comparison, a higher FA content led to a significant increase in the total pore volume, particularly in the macropore volume, accompanied by a reduction in fractal dimension. The results of the correlation analysis indicated that capillary pores have a significant impact on the thermal properties. It is shown that PCM concrete can be used to obtain available insulated concrete, which has the potential to reduce winter energy consumption.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Shaanxi Key Laboratory of safety and durability of concrete structures, Xijing University, Xi’an, China",
    "School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wenzhou Polytechnic University, Wenzhou, China",
    "College of Pipeline Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mingming Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Qingling Wu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Tingting Lu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Honghao Ying"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cj277s3w37g92.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0360241",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cj277s3w37g92",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360241",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2210|Phase Change Materials Research"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Plants/Grasses/Rice"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Material properties/Porosity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Material properties/Thermal conductivity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials/Binders/Cements"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials/Composite materials/Concrete"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Mathematics/Geometry/Fractals"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Physics/Condensed matter physics/Magnetism/Nuclear magnetic resonance"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Physics/Relaxation (physics)/Relaxation time"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Animal studies/Experimental organism systems/Plant and algal models/Rice"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221938376",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0360241&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-15",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cj277s3w37g92.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0360241",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360241"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "plos:materials science",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Sustainable strategies to improve indoor comfort and reduce energy consumption in winter: Integration of fly ash and rice husk ash in PCM concrete",
  "title_text": "Sustainable strategies to improve indoor comfort and reduce energy consumption in winter: Integration of fly ash and rice husk ash in PCM concrete",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cj277s3w37g92",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}