The mechanism of heat transfer through closed cell foam isulation can include conduction through gas in the cell interiors, conduction through the solid polymers, and thermal radiation. Each of these mechanisms is described. The rate of aging of foam insulation is related to the diffusion of air and blowing agents into the foam. Results for new HCFC's are given. Methods to enhance the thermal properties are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
SinofskyM, “Property measurement and thermal performance prediction of foam insulations”, M.S. Thesis, MIT, January1984
2.
GlicksmanL.R., SchuetzM. and SinorskyM., “Radiation heat transfer in foam insulation”, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 30, No. 1, 1987, pp. 187–197
3.
GlicksmanL.R. and TorpeyM., “Radiation in foam insulation”, Proc. of the Polyurethanes World Congress, Aachen, West Germany, 1987
4.
GlicksmanL.R., MozgowiecM. and TorpeyM., “Radiation heat transfer in foam insulation”, Proceedings of the Ninth International Heat Transfer Conference, Jerusalem, Israel, 19-24 August1990
5.
CunninghamA., JeffsG.M.F., RosbothamI.D. and SparrowD.J., “Recent advances in the development of rigid polyurethane foams of improved thermal insulation efficiency”, Proc. of the Polyurethanes World Congress, Aachen, West Germany, 1987
6.
GlicksmanL.R. and PageM.C., “Measurement of diffusion coefficients of alternate blowing agents in closed cell foam insulation”, Proceedings of SPI 33rd Annual Polyurethane Conference, Orlando, FL., Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 1990
7.
BrehmT.R. and GlicksmanL.R., “A new sorption technique for rapid measurement of gas diffusion and solubility in closed cell foam insulation”, Proceedings of the 32nd Annual SPI/Polyurethane Div. Technical/Marketing Conference, san Francisco, CA., Oct. 1-41989
