Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have extremely high thermal conductivity and can raise the thermal conductivity of a polymer matrix when used as an additive. Previous research has shown that random CNT orientation in polymer matrices gives a much lower thermal conductivity value than a specific alignment direction. This project tested the thermal conductivity of oils and polymers. Results were encouraging, with the thermal conductivity of the composites increasing linearly with the ...
In this article the effectiveness of silica aerogels as a transparent heat insulation material (TIM) is studied. They are a good candidate for this application as the amount of energy that they absorb and emit is adjustable. The effects of different treatments (hydrothermal and firing) on the thermal properties of the silica gels was studied, in addition to research on the most favorable conditions for use of this material as ...
HVAC systems have become very popular, but require a lot of thermal storage. One way to provide this storage is through phase change materials (PCM). This report investigates using expanded graphite to improve the thermal conductivity of a capric, lauric and oleic acid mixture PCM. It was found that with the increase in mass fraction of expanded graphite the thermal conductivity of the PCM also increases....
Preventing steel from losing its strength during fires is crucial for safe evacuation and effective fire fighting. One of the most common protective coatings applied to steel and other construction materials today is intumescent paint. In this study, researchers created a potential new protective coating using a curable silicone base and varying volume amounts of expandable graphite between 5-25%. The key characteristic of these coatings is that they swell to ...
This study investigates the effect changing the PH of a copper nanofluid and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) surfactant concentration has on the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid. The thermal conductivity was determined through the Hot Disk Transient Plane (TPS) method. As the PH is increased the thermal conductivity also increases because higher PH means more surface charges which increase conductivity. As the SDBS concentration is increased the thermal conductivity slightly increases ...
