# Phase Change Materials and Their Benefits in ETICS
## 3 Results and Discussion
### ETICS Base Coat Test with PCM on Insulator--Solar Effect  
Evolution of sample temperature on exterior direct sunlight (see Figures 11 and 12).  
Figure 11: Thermal images of test specimens (from left: reference base coat, base coat with fly ash, base coat with fly ash and PCM Nextek 18D, base coat with fly ash and PCM Nextek 6D), exterior 1 \({}^{\circ}\)C and 58% humidity.  
Figure 10: The development of the temperature of the PCM-containing base coat applied to the insulator, the samples placed in the exterior.  
As outlined in the last test, Figure 12, the base coat samples were tested outdoors for one hour at a temperature of about 9 \({}^{\circ}\)C and 68% relative humidity. The ambient temperature dropped to 5.8 \({}^{\circ}\)C within 1 h of measurement. The results show us the effect of direct sunlight on the sample for about 40 min and subsequent clouding. The figures show that the surface temperatures of the PCM-free sample have a faster temperature rise than the PCM samples, where the increase is gradual. The best result was the PCM Nextek 18 D sample again. At 12:01, clouds shaded the samples and temperatures dropped again, which caused a sharper fall for a sample without PCM. The results thus show that the thermal behavior of the PCM material is more gentle on the thermodynamic stress of the ETICS and limits the possibility of micro-cracks. Thus, the rise and fall of the base coat temperature is moderated by the PCM.  
The experimental verification of the condensation on the ETICS  
Figure 12: Evolution of temperature of samples placed in direct sunlight.  
Figure 13: Development of ETICS surface temperature and susceptibility to condensation.  
The systems were measured within 8 h and two complete cycles of cooling and heating the samples. The beginning of the measurement started at 12 \({}^{\circ}\)C. The resulting measurement showed different sample behavior and the surface temperature of the sample with PCM S3P 18D decreased less than in the case of the sample without PCM (S2P). In the condensation zone, this difference is better seen (see Figure 14).  
The performed experiments confirmed that the surface temperatures of the S2P sample in the condensation section meet the conditions for condensation of water vapor on the surface. The temperatures of the sample S2P correspond to dew point temperatures in the condensation section (see Figure 14). In the case of the S3P 18D sample, thanks to the use of PCM, it was possible to keep the surface temperatures above the temperature of possible condensation, and thus, condensation on the ETICS surface did not occur. One PCM sample (S3 18D) was 0.2-1.0 \({}^{\circ}\)C away from the possibility of condensation and that agrees with a previous study [4]. These results were crucial for verifying the functionality of PCM technology within the ETICS system. The theoretical assumptions concerning the use of PCM in ETICSs and their influence on the possible condensation of water on the surface were verified. According to the authors in previous studies [16; 27; 28], condensation moisture has a high proportion of algae and mold growth on facades.