Low-density microcellular non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) foams were prepared using biological compounds and carbon dioxide. The morphology of these foams was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the thermal conductivity was determined using the transient plane source (TPS) method. It was concluded that a study needed to be undertaken to determine how to fine tune the morphology of the foams in order to decrease the thermal conductivity of the foams....
Graphite nano-platelets (GnPs) were dispersed in polyethylene glycol (PEG)/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to form a PEG/PMMA/GnPs composite organic form-stable phase change material. The effects of the incorporation of the GnPs on the morphological, structural, thermal, and electrical properties of the composite were then assessed. The experimental results indicated that the incorporation of the GnPs into the polymer increased the thermal and electrical conductivities, and it was concluded that ...
Composite phase change materials were prepared using stearic acid, coffee grounds, and graphite. The coffee grounds were used as a supporting material for the stearic acid, and the graphite was added in an effort to enhance the thermal conductivity of the composite. The composites were characterized by SEM and FT-IR, the thermal conductivity was determined by the phase change temperature and latent heat were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The ...
PMMA/silica mesocomposites (PSM) and nanocomposites (PSN) were synthesized by incorporating vinyl-modified mesoporous silica (VMS) or silica particles into the poly (methyl methacrylate). The prepared composites were characterized by TEM and GPC. Thermal conductivity and gas permeability measurements were performed on the composites using a thermal constants analyzer and Yanco GTR-31 gas permeability analyzer, respectively. It was determined that an increase in the content of nanoscale silica particles improved the ...
The fatty acid stearic acid has been widely studied for its use in thermal energy storage applications as a phase change material (PCM). Stearic acid shows promise for this application because of its high volumetric storage density and its favorable thermal properties; however, two properties of stearic acid limit its use as a PCM: its low thermal conductivity and its propensity to leak liquid during the phase change process. This ...