Thermal characterization of fibrous aerogel blanket

Abstract

Nowadays, the application of thermal insulation materials both by the existing and by new buildings is one of the most important actions in order to reduce the energy loss of buildings. Besides the use of the conventional insulations (plastic foams and wool materials) aerogel is one of the most promising thermal insulation material. Aerogels, one of the lightest solid materials available today, are manufactured through the combination of a polymer with a solvent forming a gel. For buildings the fibre reinforced ones are the mainly used types. It is produced by adding the liquid-solid solution to the fibrous batting. In this paper changes in the thermal performance of the aerogel blanket will be followed after thermal annealing. The samples will be put under isothermal heat treatments at 70 °C for 6 weeks, as well as they will be put under thermal treatment at higher temperatures (from 70 °C till 210 °C) for 1 day. The changes in the thermal conductivity will be followed by Holometrix Lambda heat flow meter, as well as, Differential Scanning Calorimetry results will be presented. From the measured values, thermal properties will be calculated. In this paper we will try to clarify the role played by thermal annealing in thermal diffusivity.