A series of Bi(2-x)Sb(x)Te3 powders were prepared via hydrothermal methods by varying x (x=1.45, 1.50, 1.55, 1.56). These powders were then heavily characterized by XRD, EDS, ICP-AES, TEM, SEM and the TPS technique. A low thermal conductivity was desired, so as to give the highest thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT). It was determined that the highest figure of merit was obtained when x=1.55, which resulted in a value of 1.65 ...
Through the use of wood shavings as a filler for sand concretes, the authors have been able to improve the thermal properties of the prepared concrete as well as reuse a waste product. The previously used concrete had a higher thermal conductivity and higher density, and through the addition of wood shavings to the concrete mixture, the density and thermal conductivity of the composites have been lowered. The transient plane ...
In this article, the authors look at and compare the different methods that can be used for the measurement of thermal conductivity of nanofluids. These methods include THW and TPS among other transient and steady-state methods. This was investigated due to the large differences in thermal conductivity that were being reported for the same nanofluid from different laboratories around the world. It was determined that the system/method used the ...
Vapor-grown carbon nanofiber (VGCF) was functionalized by the covalent bonding of polylactide (PLA) in order to generate a composite known as PLA-g-VGCF. This is a multiple step process and does not produce the same composites as regular melt compounding (VGCF/PLA). This new composite was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, TGA and TEM in order to quantify and qualify the newly prepared composites, which showed 'remarkable improvement' over the melt ...
Ni-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were dispersed in four fluids (of varying viscosities) to create four different nanofluids. Due to the magnetic properties of the coated nanotubes the researchers induced a magnetic field to increase the thermal conductivity of the nanofluids. The increase in thermal conductivity was due to the alignment of the carbon nanotubes into chains due to the magnetic field. A Thermal Constants Analyzer was used to measure ...
