In this paper, several admixtures including n-heptadecane, n-octadecane, n-eicosane, 46(#) paraffin, 48(#) paraffin and liquid paraffin are prepared with different mixed proportion, aiming for appropriate phase change materials used in the building envelope. The phase change temperatures and phase change latent heats of several kinds of paraffin mixtures were studied experimentally by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The experimental results showed that the phase change temperatures and latent heats of paraffin mixtures change with their composition. Paraffin mixtures in different mass proportions have a wider phase change temperature range and higher phase change latent heat. So the paraffin mixtures can be used in the different thermal storage fields by adjusting the mixed proportion. Several paraffin mixtures with appropriate phase change temperatures and higher phase change latent heats were given, and they can be used in the building wall to storage thermal. The results in this paper can provide references and basis for the application of phase change material in the wall. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.