CEN/CLC/TR 17603-31-10:2021

Solid-liquid phase-change materials (PCM) are a favoured approach to spacecraft passive thermal control for incident orbital heat fluxes or when there are wide fluctuations in onboard equipment.
The PCM thermal control system consists of a container which is filled with a substance capable of undergoing a phase-change. When there is an the increase in surface temperature of spacecraft the PCM absorbs the excess heat by melting. If there is a temperature decrease, then the PCM can provide heat by solidifying.
Many types of PCM systems are used in spacecrafts for different types of thermal transfer control.
Characteristics and performance of phase control materials are described in this Part. Existing PCM systems are also described.