Apparatus for determining thermal conductivity of insulation materials

• Published in: Journal of Applied Polymer Science
• Main Authors: Goldfein, S., Calderon, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1965
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.1965.070090905; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fapp.1965.070090905; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/app.1965.070090905

Abstract The initial object of this investigation was to design and build an apparatus capable of screening insulation materials for use in arctic shelters. A further object was to determine its suitability for determining thermal conductivity. The apparatus comprised a steel heat sink embedded in a 6‐in. core of polyurethane foam coated with glassreinforced plastic. The specimen rested upon the heat sink, and a constant temperature bath rested, in turn, on the specimen. A potentiometer was used to measure the temperature of the sink by means of a connecting thermocouple. After calibration, the apparatus was found to be highly accurate in determining thermal conductivity.