La0.7Ba0.15Sr0.15MnO3 (LBSMO) powder was prepared and mixed with HDPE powder in volume fractions from 0 to 0.30. These powders were then molded into pellet form in a hot press and cooled to room temperature. The thermal conductivity of the resulting composite was then measured using the transient plane source method. It was found that the thermal conductivity of the composite samples increased with increasing LBSMO content up to an ...
A disc of a composite ceramic material composed of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and 20% hBN was prepared and its tribological characteristics were investigated by sliding a Si3N4 pin across its surface at different sliding speeds. The friction coefficient and wear coefficient were determined for the composite using two different test modes: one in which the pin was kept stationary and the disc was rotated on top of the pin, ...
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....
Nanocomposite phase change materials (PCMs) were prepared by adding silver nanoparticles to isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and an iPP/paraffin wax phase change materials. The Ag nanoparticles were found to be well dispersed in both iPP and the iPP/wax composite, and filler agglomeration was found to increase with increasing filler content. The nanoparticles did not significantly affect the modulus of the iPP on its own, but when Ag and paraffin ...
The work presented in this thesis was performed in order to generate knowledge of heat storage in building structures. The goal was to discover what material could most effectively reduce peak powers required by buildings by keeping buildings warm or cool without the necessity of using power....