Microstructure and thermal characterization of aerogel-graphite polyurethane spray-foam composite for high efficiency thermal energy utilization

Seunghwan Wi; Umberto Berardi; Sam Di Loreto; Sumin Kim

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122656

Microstructure and thermal characterization of aerogel-graphite polyurethane spray-foam composite for high efficiency thermal energy utilization

J Hazard Mater. 2020 Oct 5:397:122656. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122656. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Authors

Seunghwan Wi¹, Umberto Berardi², Sam Di Loreto³, Sumin Kim⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada.
³ Elastochem Specialty Chemical, 37 Easton Rd, Brantford, ON N3P 1J4, Canada.
⁴ Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kimsumin@yonsei.ac.kr.

PMID: 32416380
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122656

Abstract

Aerogel is a superinsulating material with an extremely low thermal conductivity (<0.015 W/m·K), high porosity (>99 %), and extremely low density. In this study, a new closed-cell spray polyurethane (PU) foam with aerogel was developed and investigated. In particular, a PU foam with aerogel and graphite (PUAG) was prepared by mixing aerogel for reducing the thermal conductivity of the foam and a small concentration of graphite for improving its flame-retardancy performance. The performance of the prepared PUAG was analyzed via several tests, including density measurements, thermal-conductivity measurements, morphology examination, flame-retardancy evaluation, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic heat transfer analysis. A 20 % reduction in the thermal conductivity compared with traditional PU was observed. Additionally, the PUAG exhibited a reduction in the total smoke production and a 10 % reduction in the surface peak temperature.

Keywords: Aerogel; Fire performance; Graphite; Polyurethane foam; Thermal insulation.