Thermal Properties Of Materials Research Articles

Temperature-dependent thermal buckling and free vibration behavior of smart sandwich nanoplates with auxetic core and magneto-electro-elastic face layers

AbstractThis article addresses the thermomechanical thermal buckling and free vibration response of a novel smart sandwich nanoplate based on a sinusoidal higher-order shear deformation theory (SHSDT) with a stretching effect. In the proposed sandwich nanoplate, an auxetic core layer with a negative Poisson’s ratio made of Ti-6Al-4V is sandwiched between Ti-6Al-4V rim layers and magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) face layers. The MEE face layers are homogenous volumetric mixtures of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) and barium titanate (BaTiO3). The mechanical and thermal material properties of the auxetic core and MEE face layers are temperature-dependent. Using Hamilton’s principle, governing equations are constructed. To characterize the size-dependent behavior of the nanoplate, governing equations are adapted with the nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT). By applying the principles of Navier’s technique, closed-form solutions are obtained. Parametric simulations are carried out to examine the effects of auxetic core parameters, temperature-dependent material properties, nonlocal parameters, electric, magnetic, and thermal loads on the free vibration and thermal buckling behavior of the nanoplate. According to the simulation results, it is determined that the auxetic core parameters, temperature-dependent material properties, and nonlocal factors significantly affect the thermomechanical behavior of the nanoplate. The outcomes of this investigation are expected to contribute to the advancement of smart nano-electromechanical systems, transducers, and nanosensors characterized by lightweight, exceptional structural integrity and temperature sensitivity. Also, the auxetic core with a negative Poisson’s ratio provides a metamaterial feature, and thanks to this feature, the proposed model has the potential to be used as an invisibility technology in sonar and radar-hiding applications.

High throughput screening of thermal interface materials by machine learning

Till now, it remains a challenge for effective prediction and screening of novel materials with high thermal conductivity, as well as further optimization of the interface thermal resistance. Normally, people have to spend long time on tedious calculations when predicting and screening these materials. In this paper, I combined machine learning with molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the thermal conductive properties of materials with the aim of significantly reducing computational consumption. I first applied molecular dynamics simulations to obtain the relevant properties of materials, then generated models for predicting physical properties by machine learning, and finally made predictions of thermophysical properties of materials. The use of machine learning significantly reduces the prediction time compared to direct molecular dynamics simulations. Especially when the XGBoost and the neural network models are employed, the prediction efficiency is significantly improved. This work guides a new way for the future screening of high-performance thermal interface materials.

Nanomaterials for advanced energy applications: Recent advancements and future trends

Nowadays, one of the most promising and significant challenges for our society is achieving highly efficient energy utilization. To address the upcoming demands in energy applications, which demonstrate considerable potential for future trends, continuous efforts are necessary to develop improved and higher-performing inorganic multifunctional nanomaterials. Multifunctional inorganic nanomaterials have been extensively researched to meet the requirements of various energy applications or to enhance them further. Specific attention is given to inorganic nanomaterials for advanced energy storage, conservation, transmission, and conversion applications, which strongly rely on the optical, mechanical, thermal, catalytic, and electrical properties of energy materials. At the nanometer-scale range, triboelectric, piezoelectric, thermoelectric, electrochromic, and photovoltaic materials have made significant contributions to numerous energy sector applications. Functional inorganic materials possess unique properties, including excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, chemical stability, and a large surface area, which enhance their competitiveness in energy-related applications. Herein, recent research, development, and advances in inorganic multifunctional nanomaterials to enhance their performance are discussed, highlighting how devices combine the functionalities of nanomaterials. In this manner, we aim to provide insights into future applications and elucidate the ongoing research challenges currently facing this field.

Micro-CT image-based computation of effective thermal and mechanical properties of fibrous porous materials

Fibrous porous materials are extensively employed as heat shielding material for space vehicles and capsules. To predict the performance of these materials using computational modeling at the vehicle/capsule scale, the effective material properties are needed. In this work, the effective thermal conductivity and elastic constants of a carbon fibrous porous material called FiberForm (precursor of PICA) were calculated using a direct image-based approach. In this image-based approach, the microstructures obtained using X-ray computed tomography technique are represented as binary voxel data. Nonlocal interactions are introduced between neighboring voxels. Integro-differential equations, with respect to spatial and temporal dimensions respectively, are developed to govern material thermal and mechanical behaviors. Using this approach, energy-based computational procedures were developed to calculate the effective material properties of fibrous and porous materials irrespective of the periodicity of underlying microstructures. The size of representative volume element was determined by convergence of effective properties with respect to microstructure size.

The influence of natural wind patterns on the thermal and humidity comfort of the “one seal” building in Yunnan, China

ABSTRACT The thermal and humidity environments of buildings under the influence of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems constitute a mature topic in the field of architecture, but there are few studies on the thermal and humidity environments of traditional rural buildings under natural wind conditions. In this paper, a traditional one-seal residential building in Kunming, Yunnan Province, was adopted as the research object. By arranging monitoring instruments, we collected thermal and humidity environment and natural wind data of the building under three weather conditions: cloudy, sunny and rainy days. The results showed that climate change can alter the thermal and humidity stability levels of the building, and there are differences in thermal and humidity stability among the different spatial structures inside the building. Natural wind plays a significant role in reducing the humidity of the environment and building surfaces, and the thermal and humidity properties of the building materials play an important role in maintaining the thermal and humidity stability levels of the building. The results of this study provide a basis for obtaining a greater understanding of heat and humidity comfort levels in naturally ventilated areas and thermal and humidity environments of traditional buildings at the later stage.

Nonlinearity effects on thermal transport properties of a mass-spring chain

Using Green’s function technique, we present a self-consistent formalism to study the phonon transport properties of an extended nonlinear mass-spring chain. We calculate the phonon transmission coefficient, thermal conductivity, and specific heat for some chains with different configurations of masses feeling the nonlinearity potential. The numerical results show that in a critical value of the nonlinearity coefficient, a sharp decrease in thermal conductivity will be observed. The same scenario happens in a critical temperature proportional to the inverse of the nonlinearity coefficient for the specific heat. Indeed, thermal conductor-insulator transition can occur in the system depending on the strength and distribution of nonlinearity. The model can aid our understanding of the effect of lattice nonlinearity on the thermal properties of one-dimensional materials to design the thermal switches.

Multimodal learning of heat capacity based on transformers and crystallography pretraining

Thermal properties of materials are essential to many applications of thermal electronic devices. Density functional theory (DFT) has shown capability in obtaining an accurate calculation. However, the expensive computational cost limits the application of the DFT method for high-throughput screening of materials. Recently, machine learning models, especially graph neural networks (GNNs), have demonstrated high accuracy in many material properties’ prediction, such as bandgap and formation energy, but fail to accurately predict heat capacity(CV) due to the limitation in capturing crystallographic features. In our study, we have implemented the material informatics transformer (MatInFormer) framework, which has been pretrained on lattice reconstruction tasks. This approach has shown proficiency in capturing essential crystallographic features. By concatenating these features with human-designed descriptors, we achieved a mean absolute error of 4.893 and 4.505 J/(mol K) in our predictions. Our findings underscore the efficacy of the MatInFormer framework in leveraging crystallography, augmented with additional information processing capabilities.

Suppressed Lone Pair Electrons Explain Unconventional Rise of Lattice Thermal Conductivity in Defective Crystalline Solids

AbstractManipulating thermal properties of materials can be interpreted as the control of how vibrations of atoms (known as phonons) scatter in a crystal lattice. Compared to a perfect crystal, crystalline solids with defects are expected to have shorter phonon mean free paths caused by point defect scattering, leading to lower lattice thermal conductivities than those without defects. While this is true in many cases, alloying can increase the phonon mean free path in the Cd‐doped AgSnSbSe3 system to increase the lattice thermal conductivity from 0.65 to 1.05 W m−1 K−1 by replacing 18% of the Sb sites with Cd. It is found that the presence of lone pair electrons leads to the off‐centering of cations from the centrosymmetric position of a cubic lattice. X‐ray pair distribution function analysis reveals that this structural distortion is relieved when the electronic configuration of the dopant element cannot produce lone pair electrons. Furthermore, a decrease in the Grüneisen parameter with doping is experimentally confirmed, establishing a relationship between the stereochemical activity of lone pair electrons and the lattice anharmonicity. The observed “harmonic” behavior with doping suggests that lone pair electrons must be preserved to effectively suppress phonon transport in these systems.

On optimizing the experimental setup for estimation of the thermal conductivity of thin films

AbstractThe aim of this study is to show the optimal arrangement of a measurement system for estimating the thermal conductivity of thin films from temperature profiles. For this purpose, two different experimental setup systems, with square and circular cross sections, were designed to estimate the thermal conductivity of thin films and, in particular, of two ion exchange membranes. Both systems were placed horizontally and vertically in order to evaluate the best orientation to more accurately determine thermal conductivity. A three-dimensional numerical simulation was performed using Comsol Multiphysics to predict the heat flow and temperature gradient and to evaluate the effect of the geometry and the orientation on the contact resistances. Each system was first calibrated without the membrane inside in order to estimate all the necessary thermal properties of the different materials of the model. Next, the membrane was placed inside the model, so that the model now includes the thermal conductivity of the membrane as the only unknown parameter. The numerical results were compared with the various measured temperature profiles to estimate the thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity values of the well-known Nafion 117 membrane and other thicker membrane were determined. A very good agreement with reliable literature values was obtained. The approach presented here, combining experimental and simulated temperature profiles, may provide the basis for a practical alternative to better estimate the thermal conductivity of thin films.

Mechanical properties of lightweight 3D-printed structures made with carbon-filled nylon

AbstractMaterial extrusion additive manufacturing is a widely used 3D-printing process involving depositing molten thermoplastic materials layer by layer to create a 3D object. Combining material extrusion with composites creates strong, lightweight, and functional parts with unique properties. This study uses chopped carbon fiber reinforcement to investigate polyamide's thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties. The study includes an analysis of the material's thermal properties via differential scanning calorimetry and its flow behavior via rotational rheometry. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of carbon-filled nylon PA material's economic and mechanical properties, which will help optimize its performance for various applications. Tensile and flexural tests were used to appraise the material's strength and stiffness under different loading conditions. A cost analysis was performed to compute the specimen cost as a function of orientation and infill density. The aim was to understand how the type and strategy of infill design impact the material's mechanical properties, helping optimize the performance of components and evaluating its cost.

Volumetric Modification of Transparent Materials with Two-Color Laser Irradiation: Insight from Numerical Modeling.

Traditionally, single-color laser beams are used for material processing and modifications of optical, mechanical, conductive, and thermal properties of different materials. So far, there are a limited number of studies about the dual-wavelength laser irradiation of materials, which, however, indicate a strong enhancement in laser energy coupling to solid targets. Here, a theoretical study is reported that aimed at exploring the volumetric excitation of fused silica with dual-wavelength (800 nm and 400 nm) ultrashort laser pulses focused on the material's bulk. Numerical simulations are based on Maxwell's equations, accounting for the generation of conduction electrons, their hydrodynamic motion in the laser field, and trapping into an excitonic state. It is shown that, by properly choosing the energies of the two laser harmonics successively coupling with the material, it is possible to strongly enhance the laser energy absorption as compared to the pulses of a single wavelength with the same total energy. Laser energy absorption strongly depends on the sequence of applied wavelengths, so that the shorter wavelength pre-irradiation can yield a dramatic effect on laser excitation by the following longer-wavelength pulse. The predictions of this study can open a new route for enhancing and controlling the highly localized absorption of laser energy inside transparent materials for optoelectronic and photonic applications.

Analysis of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polymer Materials Derived from Recycled Overprinted Metallized PP Films.

Polymer materials and their composites are one of the most frequently used materials in the packaging and food industries. This applies to both disposable and reusable packaging, layered films with barrier properties, as well as densely overprinted polymer films and metallized food wrap films. According to statistical data from Plastics Europe, approximately 40% of processed thermoplastics are used to produce packaging, including single- and multi-layer film packaging. Growing requirements and new EU directives require the use of recycled materials in new products, which is not easy because the properties of recyclates may differ significantly from those of the primary materials with which the former are mixed. This work attempts to analyze the properties of the primary material used to produce a film using the casting method in comparison with the industrial recyclate obtained by the processing of film made of the primary material and then overprinted and metallized. The process of obtaining re-granulates and preparing test samples was presented, and the mechanical, structural, and thermal properties of the tested materials were compared. The conducted research and the obtained results demonstrated the advisability of conducting advanced mechanical recycling, which leads to obtaining re-granulates with repeatable processing properties and thermal and mechanical properties comparable to the original material despite the impurities they contain.

Properties test of 1D carbon-carbon composite tiles for the diagnostic calorimeter of CRAFT NNBI test platform

An important aspect of the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) project is to conduct research on neutral beam injection based on accelerated negative ions, which is one of the main auxiliary heating methods. To evaluate beam characteristics, a diagnostic calorimeter based on a unidirectional carbon fiber-carbon matrix (CFC) composite has been developed in the negative ion source test facility. The CFC calorimeter can diagnose key features of a particle beam, including its divergence and uniformity. The CFC calorimeter has been developed by a worldwide research team of neutral beam injection (NBI) due to its high spatial resolution, which is determined by the thermal properties of CFC materials. This paper aims to verify the thermal properties of CFC materials from TianCe Technology Co., Ltd. by comparing data acquired by infrared (IR) camera with simulations. Experimental and simulation results show that the CFC material provided by the company satisfies the requirements of experiment.

Hygrothermal characterization of lightweight biosourced composites based on date palm fiber and lime

ABSTRACT Biosourced materials derived from agricultural by-products hold significant promise in both enhancing the hygrothermal performance of buildings and reducing their environmental footprint. We investigate the hygrothermal properties of green composites based on date palm fibers and lime. The eco-friendly building composites explored are manufactured using either trunk fiber (surface fiber) or rachi and petiole fiber (wood fiber). Through an experimental approach, for different fiber percentages, the hygrothermal characteristics of the explored composites were experimentally determined in terms of thermal conductivity, diffusivity, porosity, water vapor permeability, and sorption scanning isotherms. The results show that date palm fiber has a positive effect on the thermal properties of the composite material. Indeed, it significantly enhances the insulating capacity of the composites. Water vapor permeability exhibits significant variation depending on the fiber content, with samples containing higher fiber content exhibiting greater permeability. Furthermore, the effective moisture penetration depth (EMPD) model proved effective describing the experimental adsorption scanning isotherm curves. It was observed that the sorption process is significantly influenced by both the type and percentage of fibers. Finally, the observed results demonstrate that date palm fiber and lime composites could offer notable advantages for construction applications and serve as an effective, cost-effective insulation.

Robust, thermally insulating, and high-temperature resistant phosphate-enhanced mullite fiber porous ceramic composites

Porous mullite ceramics with high porosity and low thermal conductivity are urgently required as high-temperature thermal insulators in harsh environments. How to improve the strength of Porous mullite ceramics dramatically under the premise of no sacrificing its thermal insulating properties has remained an extremely challenging. Inspired by the freezing rain phenomenon in nature, high-strength and high-temperature resistant phosphate coatings were applied to the surface of mullite fibers, which significantly improved the mechanical properties of porous mullite ceramics without significantly increasing their thermal conductivity. The Al(H2PO4)3 solution concentration significantly affected the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite material, where the mechanical performance improved with an increasing Al(H2PO4)3 solution concentration. The phosphate coating phase stabilized with an increasing calcination temperature. The mechanical properties of the ceramics were improved by the excellent interfacial bonding strength between the coating and mullite fiber, and the forms of phosphate in the porous ceramics. The optimum composite preparation process increased its compressive strength by approximately nine-fold to 4.1 MPa and resulted in a thermal conductivity of only approximately 0.09 W/(m·K), demonstrating that the composite exhibited a significantly higher comprehensive performance than other previously reported porous ceramics and aerogels. Such new composites with excellent mechanical and thermal insulation properties exhibit excellent potential for high-strength thermal insulation in the chemical, metallurgical, pharmaceutical, aerospace, and other fields.

Thermal Properties Characteristic of Aluminium-Alumina Composite for Solar Water Heating System Application

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is an energy storage mechanism or material with modern technology at low costs, such as metal, concrete, composites, and others. Aluminum (Al)–Alumina (Al2O3) Composite is a solid material with high strength and hardness characteristics that can work in low-temperature applications. This study aims to analyze the features of the thermal properties of composite materials in the form of thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity. Composite specimens were prepared using powder metallurgy techniques. The weight fraction of alumina in the composite is 35%, 50%, and 65%. There are three (3) composite models, namely C1(35Al-65Al2O3), C2 (50Al-50Al2O3), and C3(65Al-35Al2O3). Models were made using the cold compaction method with a compressive load of around 20-25 MPa, and the specimens were fired in a furnace at a temperature of 550 °C with a holding time of 30 minutes. Scanning Electron Microscopy analyzed the microstructure of the composites. Composite thermal conductivity test using a thermal conductivity apparatus, and composite heat capacity test using a Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that C1(35Al-65Al2O3) composite had higher density and specific heat capacity than C2 and C3 composites. The theoretical density and specific heat capacity values of the C1 composite are 3.39 g/cm3 1.36 J/g.°C. However, the value of the thermal conductivity of C1(35Al-65Al2O3) material is lower than the other composites with a value of 0.37 W/m.°C. The greater the percentage by weight of alumina in the aluminum-alumina composite, the more theoretical density and specific heat capacity will also increase. Still, the thermal conductivity of the composite will decrease. Composite C1 35Al-65Al2O3 can potentially be a heat energy storage material used in solar water heating systems because of its high density and heat capacity.

Study on the melting characteristics of composite phase change materials and the power generation performance of coupled thermoelectric systems under supergravity conditions

Miniaturization and integration of electronic equipment in aircraft have resulted in a substantial increase in thermal load. However, aircraft often experience acceleration maneuvering flights in supergravity environments, which makes comprehensive research on thermal management under supergravity conditions necessary. The influence of gravity on the thermal storage properties of composite phase change materials doped with graphene nanoparticles (GNP-PCM) was investigated in this study by simulation. Under 2g, 4g, 6g, 8g, and 10g gravity conditions, the melting time is reduced by 14.86%, 27.05%, 33.31%, 37.00%, and 39.79%, respectively, compared with normal gravity conditions. Moreover, the integration of the PCM with a thermoelectric power system facilitated waste heat utilization. Incorporating GNPs markedly enhances power generation efficiency under 10g supergravity conditions. With an open-circuit voltage of 0.8 V and a maximum output power of 0.11 W, the power generation reached 81.62 J, which is 53.91% higher than that of pure PCM. This enhancement can be attributed to the improved natural convection and accelerated melting rate facilitated by the GNPs. This study elucidates the underlying physical mechanisms affecting the melting rate of PCM under increased gravity conditions. Furthermore, coupling PCM with a thermal power generation system provides a rational approach for the reuse of waste heat.

Thermal Properties of Backfill Material for Underground Heat Exchange Applications

We are investigating the effect of the thermal properties of backfill material on the efficiency of underground thermal energy systems. We have used aluminum to increase the thermal properties of clay-bentonite and to investigate its potential as a backfill material in underground heat exchange applications. The measurements of thermal properties were made at room temperature using the Transient Plane Source (TPS) technique. The measurements were based on an infinite homogeneous medium using different composites of aluminum and clays in amounts of aluminum concentration ranging from 6 to 25 percent of the sample’s weight. The results confirmed an overall relative increase of 170% and 135% in the thermal conductivity and diffusivity, respectively as the Al content increased by 25%. The estimated average of the thermal transmittance (U-value ) of these samples was in the range from 0.40 to 1.1 W/m2K, which was directly proportional to the relative increase in the measured properties. Our findings can be applied to underground thermal energy systems, ground source heat pumps, and solid dielectric underground transmission lines.

Effect of Magnetic Flow and Convective Heat Transfer Enhancement Using Hybrid Nanofluid: A Structured Review

Convective heat transfer is vital in a variety of engineering applications, including thermal management systems, electronic refrigeration, and energy conversion devices. Improving the rate of heat transfer in these systems is of the utmost significance for increasing their efficiency. This review focuses on the single and combined effects of these parameters on improving heat transmission in such systems. The heat and mass transfer of nanofluid is greatly influenced by various factors, including the intrinsic features of the nanofluid, the process used for synthesising the nanofluid, the impact of magnetic force, the concentration and size of nanoparticles, and the Reynolds number (Re). Furthermore, it is important to note that the material characteristics, thermal properties, and performance of magnetic nanofluids are significantly influenced by slight variations in the magnetic force and magnetic field gradient. Multiple research projects have reached the agreement that the inclusion of a magnetic field within magnetic nanoparticles enhances the convective heat transfer capabilities of a nanofluid, resulting in an improvement ranging from around 13% to 75%. Moreover, several applications of hybrid nanofluids in thermal systems have been introduced.

Similarity analysis of the fire-resistant behaviour of partially encased composite columns in different scales

As full-scale fire resistance tests commonly involve considerable expense and require specialized experimental apparatus, scale specimens are being employed in many investigations focusing on the performance of structural members under fire exposure. However, since the inherent thermal properties of materials are commonly independent of the geometrical scale factors, it is necessary to analyze the similarity among the thermal responses of scale specimens and their corresponding prototype in advance, in order to generalize the experimental conclusions to practice. In this context, the similarity of the fire-resistant behaviour of partially encased concrete (PEC) columns, a sort of structural member that is widely used in building and industrial structures, in different geometrical scales was studied in this work. A finite element model was developed and verified based on existing experimental results, and then used for the parametric studies. The similarities of the transient temperature fields, deformation states and the fire-resistant durations of the PEC columns with restrained thermal elongation in different scales were analyzed, which indicates that the mathematical relationship between the time-scale factor and the geometric scale factor in the classical similitude theory needs to be improved for such structural members with complex cross-sections. A modified time-scale equation was therefore proposed to ensure the fire endurance prediction accuracy of scale PEC models for the corresponding prototypes under fire, with the proportion of steel in the cross-section (steel ratio) and the aspect ratio well-considered, which could facilitate the temperature-related experiments and analyses of PEC structural members in the future.