In this research silica aerogels were incorporated into PVC fabrics by the research team to improve the overall performance of the fabrics. The aerogel was added in percent fractions of 0, 2, 3, and 4%. Comprehensive analysis of physical and mechanical properties was also performed. Thermal conductivity measurements revealed that the addition of the silica aerogel had reduced the thermal conductivity of the fabric; when 4% silica was added, the thermal conductivity dropped by 26%. As ...
Author(s): Dan Ckesson, Mikael Skrifvars, Mohammad J. Taherzadeh, Mostafa Jabbari
This study investigated the use of oil palm shell as an additive for use in concrete. As the construction industry searches for methods to increase sustainability, using by-products produced by other industries to reduce the amount of cement required to produce concrete has become more popular, Oil palm shell is available in large quantities as an industrial waste product, is lightweight, and has the potential to help with thermal insulation. ...
Author(s): Eravan Serri, Md Azree Othuman Mydin, Mohd Zailan Suleiman
Polymeric tannin/furanic foams fortified with polyurethane (PUR) and 4,4’ diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) were prepared. The thermo-physical and mechanical properties of the produced foams were investigated experimentally. It was found that since there were a number of active isocyanate groups on the PUR that was used, there was no difference in adding PUR or pMDI to the foams, and so only the results for pMDI were presented. It was found that ...
Author(s): Alain Celzard, Antonio Pizzi, M. C. Basso, V. Fierro, X. Li
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....
Author(s): B. Grignard, C. B. Park, C. Detrembleur, C. Jerome, J.-M. Raquez, J.-M. Thomassin, L. Bonnaud, L. Poussard, M.-P. Tran, P. Dubois, S. Gennen
Ambient pressure dried hydrophobic silica aerogel monoliths were prepared via simultaneous solvent exchange and surface modification in order to minimize volume shrinkage and density. At room temperature, the obtained silica aerogels had a low density of 0.096 g/cm³, a high surface area and hydrophobicity, and a low thermal conductivity of 0.0217 W/m·K. The effect of heating on these properties was also determined. After the aerogel had been heated to 300°...
Author(s): Ai Du, Bin Zhou, Guangming Wu, Guangwu Liu, Guoqing Zu, Jun Shen, Xing Yuan Ni, Xingyuan Ni