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....
The thermal properties (thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat) were measured for igneous and sedimentary rocks at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The thermal properties of the igneous rocks, dunite and gabbro, were then measured at temperatures ranging from 293 K to 483 K and 293 K to 443 K, respectively. A predictive model was then developed for estimating the effective thermal conductivity of porous media using the thermal conductivities of the solid ...
The thermal and mechanical properties of concrete in which normal weight aggregate has been substituted with lightweight aggregates were investigated. The properties were found to be dependent on the volume fraction of the lightweight aggregate, as well as on the nature and quality of the aggregate. The addition of lightweight aggregates resulted in a decreased thermal conductivity, as well as a decreased thermal diffusivity in all samples. The compressive strength ...
