Novel techniques to analyse thermal performance of aerogel-treated blankets under extreme temperatures

Abstract

The thermal properties of polyester/polyethylene non-woven blankets of varying thicknesses impregnated with aerogel were studied and compared. The SEM images were also taken to study the physical configuration of the aerogel-based fibrous webs. Specific thermal properties like conductivity, resistance and effusivity were measured using C-Therm TCi thermal conductivity analyzer. One major objective was to understand the potential of a newly fabricated equipment to study the thermal properties of non-woven textile fabrics treated with aerogel at sub-zero temperatures. Thermal conductivity was calculated using the empirical relation in Fourier’s law. The relationship between the thermal conductivity and thermal resistance of the samples was studied at various environmental temperatures (which was set in the climatic temperature system between (+25°C and −25°C). The newly fabricated equipment was found to be suitable for thermal measurements at sub-zero temperatures. The results were statistically analysed and compared. It was found that fabric thickness and density have a significant effect on the thermal properties and permeability of the aerogel-treated non-woven fabrics. The results also showed that the selected polyester and polyethylene non-woven fabrics were suitable for usage as thermal insulators during construction of buildings and for insulation of oil and gas pipelines.

Keywords:

• aerogel
• thermal insulation
• conductivity
• non-wovens
• sub-zero temperature

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by project No. L1213 of program NPU in Czech Republic.