Category: Transient Plane Source
Author(s): Andraz Kocjan, Bernd Wicklein, Federico Carosio, German Salazar-Alvarez, Giovanni Camino, Lennart Bergstrom, Markus Antonietti
Keywords: anisotropic, Fire Resistance, graphene, Insulating Foams, Specific Heat, Thermal Conductivity
Abstract: The researchers used an instrument to measure the thermal properties (thermal conductivity and specific heat) of anisotropic thermally insulating foams produced by the mixing of nanocellulose, graphene oxide and sepiolite nanorods via the freeze-casting method. These anisotropic foams showed superior thermal properties when compared to expanded polystyrene (a common insulation material), and had a thermal conductivity value of 0.015 W/mK which is half the value for expanded polystyrene. Not only does this foam have superior thermal properties when compared to expanded polystyrene, but is also prepared from renewable resources and has better durability when compared to vacuum insulation panels and aerogels.
Reference: Nature Nanotechnology, 10 (2015) 277-283
DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2014.248