Category: Transient Plane Source
Author(s): Sriharsha S. Sundarram, Wei Li
Keywords: Polymeric Foams, Thermal Conductivity, Transient Plane Source Analyzer
Abstract: Finite element and molecular dynamics models were used to study the effect of pore size and porosity on the thermal conductivity of polymeric foams. These models were then verified by measurements made using the transient plane source technique. It was determined that the pore size has a significant effect on the thermal conductivity of these foams, and that when the pore size decreases to the nanometer scale, the thermal conductivity can drop below that of air. This low thermal conductivity is attributed to scattering of heat carriers in the polymeric matrix.
Reference: Polymer Engineering and Science, 53, 9 (2013) 1901-1909
DOI: 10.1002/pen.23452