Modeling of Radiative Properties of Polystyrene Foams Containing IR-Opacifiers. Issue 2 (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arduini, M.; Manara, J.; Vo, C.
• Is Part Of: Cellular polymers. Volume 35:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: Opacifiers -- Porous materials -- Complex refractive index -- Radiative transfer -- Radiative thermal conductivity -- Extinction coefficient; Plastic foams -- Periodicals; Foam rubber -- Periodicals; 620.192
• DOI: 10.1177/026248931603500201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0262-4893

Abstract

The addition of opacifiers in foams considerably reduces the radiative thermal conductivity and consequently enhances the insulation performance of the foams. In this work two different methods were developed to calculate the spectral specific extinction coefficient of opacified extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam material. Cell morphology and thermal conductivity of two identical XPS-foams, one opacified with 3 wt% carbon black as opacifier and one without opacifier, were thoroughly characterized. The experimental results were in a good agreement with the theoretical results obtained from two different computing techniques. These methods allow a good prediction of the specific extinction coefficient of arbitrary opacified foam material.