Thermal Conductivity Measurements Research Articles

Heat Transfer Application of Nanofluids and Testing of Thermal Conductivity

In response to the growing demand for more efficient heat transfer technologies in various industrial processes, the development of nanofluids has emerged as a promising solution. Traditional heat transfer fluids like mineral oil, ethylene glycol, and water have relatively low thermal conductivities compared to solids, limiting the compactness and efficiency of heat exchangers. Nanofluids, which are created by suspending ultrafine metallic or nonmetallic solid powders in base fluids, exhibit enhanced thermal properties due to the superior thermal conductivities of solid materials. This paper reviews the preparation, thermal conductivity measurement, and influencing factors of nanofluids, with a focus on thermal conductivity as the primary driver for improved heat transfer. The preparation of nanofluids involves either a one-step or two-step method, with the two-step method being more commonly used for oxide nanoparticles (NPs) such as Al2O3, ZnO, MgO, TiO2, and SiO2. The study discusses stabilization techniques like ultrasonication and magnetic force agitation to ensure homogeneous suspension and long-term stability of the nanofluids. The thermal conductivity measurements are conducted using short hot wire (SHW) and transient hot wire (THW) techniques, with considerations of the nonsteady-state nature and potential error sources. The research underscores the importance of rigorous experimental design and accurate data analysis to address the complexities and variability in thermal conductivity measurements, ultimately contributing to the advancement of nanofluid technologies for efficient heat transfer solutions.

Automated system for measuring thermal conductivity of solid materials

Automated system for measuring thermal conductivity of solid materials

Thermal conductivity of epoxy resin films doped with a polythiophene/graphene complex or aluminum nitride

AbstractPolymer composites with thermal conductivity are attractive for heat dissipation in electronic devices. We prepared epoxy resin‐based composite films filled with polythiophene [poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl)] (P3HT)/graphene complex or aluminum nitride (AlN). The composite films were characterized by electron microscopic observation, thermogravimetric analysis, and thermal conductivity measurements. The addition of a small content of P3HT/graphene complex (<1 wt%) increased both the out‐of‐plane and in‐plane thermal conductivities of the epoxy resin. The addition of AlN also increased thermal conductivity, but ≥40 wt% was required to obtain thermal conductivity comparable with that of an epoxy resin film doped with 0.9 wt% P3HT/graphene complex. The present results illustrate the potential of P3HT/graphene complexes as fillers for improving the thermal conductivity of epoxy resins without affecting their insulating properties.Highlights Polythiophene/graphene fillers increased epoxy resin films' thermal conductivity. To raise the thermal conductivity of epoxy resin films high AlN content was needed. In‐plane/out‐of‐plane epoxy resin films' thermal conductivities were evaluated.

Simultaneous measurement of thermal conductivity and emissivity of micro/nanomaterials

Although thermal conductivity of micro/nano scale material has been readily measured, the high specific surface area leads to non-negligible radiative heat transfer. Here, a method for simultaneous measurement of intrinsic thermal conductivity and emissivity of micro/nano materials was developed and verified. The physical model of this measurement principle consisted of two parallel platinum wires, which serve as both heaters and heat flux meters. Thermal conductivity and emissivity can be derived by comparing the changes in the average temperature rise of the heater and sensor platinum wires before and after attaching the test sample. The thermal conductivity and emissivity of an individual platinum wire were determined to 71.7 W/(m·K) and 0.14, which are consistent with the reference values. Subsequently, the thermal conductivity and emissivity of the polymer composite fiber were measured to be 1.45 W/(m·K), 0.73 and 1.87 W/(m·K), 0.8 at different composite filler concentrations. In principle, this method is applicable for accurately measuring the thermal transport properties of any micro/nano wires using appropriate sensors.

Determining thermal properties of beech and fir wood samples in longitudinal direction via modified transient plane source method

The increasing use of wood leads to the need for a better understanding of its thermal properties with the aim of quantitatively identifying the exchange of thermal energy between wood and the surrounding solar radiation as precisely as possible. Reliable and rapid measurement of thermal conductivity is one of the most important current industrial requirements. The aim of this study is to examine the validity of using the modified transient plane source method (MTPS), which uses the principle of one-sided heating of the sample, and is defined by the ASTM D7984-21 (2021) standard, for determining the thermal conductivity of complex biocomposite composite materials such as wood. The analysis of the available literature shows a lack of data on the thermal conductivity of the type of wood originating in Croatia. In this study, the thermal conductivities of beech and fir wood samples in the longitudinal direction was determined by the MTPS method depending on the temperature and moisture content in the samples. Measurements were made on samples with a moisture content of 0%, 10%, and 20% in the temperature range from 20 to 80 °C.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-assisted non-destructive transient thermoreflectance characterizations.

The conventional pump-probe thermoreflectance (pump-probe TR) techniques are routinely performed on a thin (typically <100nm) metal transducer deposited on samples, ensuring the most fundamental principle of thermoreflectance: the reflectance change (∆R/R) of the sample surface is directly and linearly related to the temperature change (∆T) within a finite temperature range. However, general metal coating methods may damage the sample by forming a mixed layer with the sample. In this article, we present a non-destructive pump-probe transient thermoreflectance (TTR) characterization using the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-assisted metal transfer technique. Our method utilizes PDMS dry transfer to transfer common transducer metals (Au and Al) to the target substrate. This method effectively avoids impurities and damage to the sample. In particular, we have utilized Au as a transition layer to study the application of Al transfer in TTR measurements. The substrate thermal conductivity measurement results show that they can all be used for TTR measurement, and the thermal boundary conductance results show that the transferred metals have low bonding to the substrate. In addition, Al/Au can be transferred over a large area at room temperature compared to Au. After measurement, the samples can be restored to their original state by a simple cleaning method. This method provides a simple and reliable way to characterize samples without metal coating for TTR.

Thermo-mechanical behaviours investigation of Nano-Sized Al2O3, TiO2, and Graphene Nanoplatelet Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Composite materials find extensive applications in various industries, thanks to their remarkable properties. These sectors include energy, maritime, motor sports, aviation, space and defense. The materials commonly used in these sectors are fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composite materials. Epoxy materials are commonly used as matrix in the production of FRP materials. This study delves into the enhancement of epoxy-based nanocomposites by using graphene nanoplatelets (GNP-5nm), TiO2 (13nm), and Al2O3 (8nm) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were added at varying mass ratios into a commercial epoxy to investigate their effects on some chemical, thermal and mechanical properties. Meticulous mixing methodologies were used to reduce clumping effects and ensure even distribution during the process. The curing process was carried out in a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) controlled hot air oven under isothermal conditions under the influence of 100 °C for 30 minutes. Tensile strength, elongation at break, toughness, resilience modulus, elasticity modulus, hardness, FTIR analysis and thermal conductivity properties were characterized to assess the nanoparticle influence on the epoxy matrix. The results showed that there were remarkable improvements in mechanical properties with nanoparticle reinforcement. Especially, 1.25% Al2O3 inclusion exhibited a substantial increase of 140.32% in tensile strength and a 7% rise in shore D hardness compared to pure epoxy. This enhancement was attributed to enhanced O-H bonding between 'O' atoms in Al2O3 nanoparticles and epoxy polymer chains, enhancing matrix-filler interactions. Additionally, the effect of 1.0% TiO2 led to plasticity, displaying a 32% rise in elongation at break, signifying improved deformation energy absorption compared to neat epoxy. In thermal conductivity measurements, the highest thermal conductivity was observed in the sample with 1.25% GNP added and it increased by 123.5% compared to neat epoxy. In TiO2 and Al2O3 added samples, an increase of 69% and 47%, respectively, was observed at 1.25% additive rates compared to neat epoxy. According to the results, thanks to the nanoparticle reinforcement added into the epoxy matrix, composite structures can be given new and superior properties specific to the applications.

Enhancement of ZT in Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 Thin Film through Lattice Orientation Management.

Thermoelectric power can convert heat and electricity directly and reversibly. Low-dimensional thermoelectric materials, particularly thin films, have been considered a breakthrough for separating electronic and thermal transport relationships. In this study, a series of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thin films with thicknesses of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 μm have been fabricated by RF sputtering for the study of thickness effects on thermoelectric properties. We demonstrated that microstructure (texture) changes highly correlate with the growth thickness in the films, and equilibrium annealing significantly improves the thermoelectric performance, resulting in a remarkable enhancement in the thermoelectric performance. Consequently, the 0.5 μm thin films achieve an exceptional power factor of 18.1 μWcm-1K-2 at 400 K. Furthermore, we utilize a novel method that involves exfoliating a nanosized film and cutting with a focused ion beam, enabling precise in-plane thermal conductivity measurements through the 3ω method. We obtain the in-plane thermal conductivity as low as 0.3 Wm-1K-1, leading to a maximum ZT of 1.86, nearing room temperature. Our results provide significant insights into advanced thin-film thermoelectric design and fabrication, boosting high-performance systems.

A Practicable Guideline for Predicting the Thermal Conductivity of Unconsolidated Soils

For large infrastructure projects, such as high-voltage underground cables or for evaluating the very shallow geothermal potential (vSGP) of small-scale horizontal geothermal systems, large-scale geothermal collector systems (LSCs), and fifth generation low temperature district heating and cooling networks (5GDHC), the thermal conductivity (λ) of the subsurface is a decisive soil parameter in terms of dimensioning and design. In the planning phase, when direct measurements of the thermal conductivity are not yet available or possible, λ must therefore often be estimated. Various empirical literature models can be used for this purpose, based on the knowledge of bulk density, moisture content, and grain size distribution. In this study, selected models were validated using 59 series of thermal conductivity measurements performed on soil samples taken from different sites in Germany. By considering different soil texture and moisture categories, a practicable guideline in the form of a decision tree, employed by empirical models to calculate the thermal conductivity of unconsolidated soils, was developed. The Hu et al. (2001) model showed the smallest deviations from the measured values for clayey and silty soils, with an RMSE value of 0.20 W/(m∙K). The Markert et al. (2017) model was determined to be the best-fitting model for sandy soils, with an RMSE value of 0.29 W/(m∙K).

In-situ crosslinking reaction of graphene oxide & waterborne epoxy resin to construct continuous phase anticorrosive coating

The mechanism of using graphene oxide as a two-dimensional filler to increase the path length of the corrosive medium to the metal surface is limited to improving the corrosion resistance of the coating. This study propose novel dispersion and in-situ crosslinking reaction mechanism for constructing water-based heavy-duty anticorrosive coatings by using graphene oxide (GO) and waterborne epoxy resin (WEP). The results showed that GO can be uniformly dispersed directly into WEP without complex functional modifications. Oxygen-containing functional groups on moleculars structure of GO&WEP co-polymerized with diethylenetriamine (DETA) forming a continuous phase film which improved the density of the coating. Characterization techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal conductivity measurement instrument, pencil hardness tester, adhesion tester, salt spray corrosion test chamber, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to evaluate coating structure and performance properties. The results showed that graphene characteristics enhanced physical properties and anti-corrosion performance of composite coatings. The construction mechanism of the coating is different from that of the current GO modified and dispersed in the coating as a two-dimensional filler to extend the path length of the corrosive medium to the metal surface. The coatings prepared by adding the optimum mass ratio of 0.1–0.2 % GO to WEP have the best physical properties and anti-corrosion properties. When the GO content is 0.2 wt%, the thermal conductivity increases by 86.0 %. After added 0.025 wt% GO, the coating hardness is increased by two grades directly from 2B to HB. With the addition of GO concentration increased to 0.05 wt%, the adhesion is increased from 2 to level 1.When the GO content exceeds 0.05 %, the coating will not bulge off after 4 months of salt water immersion experiment.

Aqueous Theta-Phase Aluminum Oxide Nanofluid for Energy Applications: Experimental Study on Thermal Conductivity

The use of nanofluids in energy systems allows for increasing efficiency and developing more economic systems. Alumina-water is one of the most common nanofluids used but little information is available about the aqueous theta-phase aluminum oxide. Given the lack of thermal conductivity data for this nanofluid, in this research, this property is experimentally evaluated. Nanofluid is prepared using the two-step method, employing a magnetic stirrer and a sonication bath. A high-precision sensor is employed for measuring thermal conductivity, using the method of transient hot wire. The thermal conductivity measurements for the base fluid (water) are compared with data provided by NIST. Nanoparticle mass fraction in the nanofluid is increased from 1 to 10% and the temperature from 22.1 to 59.3 °C. Three sonication times (1.5, 4 and 16.5 h) are used. A strong dependence between the thermal conductivity and the temperature and nanoparticles concentration has been found, while the sonication time has a negligible influence on the thermal conductivity in the range of times tested. A correlation to obtain the thermal conductivity of the water-based nanofluid using theta-phase aluminum oxide has been developed, including nanoparticle volume concentration and temperature. An excellent agreement is obtained between predicted and experimental data.

Observation of dynamic nanoscale thermal expansion in mirrors and graphene-aided heat dissipation by an advanced chromatic confocal microscopy

In this Letter, dynamic nano-thermal expansion images of reflective mirrors from high-intensity incident laser beams were observed in situ. The inspections are based on rapid 3D surface morphology changes on the reflective surfaces, captured by a Chromatic Confocal Microscope with Nanoscale Sensitivity (CCMNS). Nano-expansions of two types of coatings were studied: the E02 dielectric coating (coating 1) and the graphene-on-E02 complex film (coating 2), both applied to the same fused silica substrate. The superior thermal dissipation properties of coating 2, including enhanced heat dissipation, suppressed wavefront distortion, and its unique negative expansion coefficient, were observed. In addition to studying the effects of graphene coating, the CCMNS demonstrates an accurate and efficient approach for evaluating reflective mirrors. Moreover, the proposed methodology possesses enormous potential across various fields, ranging from estimating photonic elements dealing with high-intensity beams to physical thermal conductivity measurements.

Validation of the Wiedemann-Franz Law in Solid and Molten Tungsten above 2000K through Thermal Conductivity Measurements via Steady-State Temperature Differential Radiometry.

We measure the thermal conductivity of solid and molten tungsten using steady state temperature differential radiometry. We demonstrate that the thermal conductivity can be well described by application of Wiedemann-Franz law to electrical resistivity data, thus suggesting the validity of Wiedemann-Franz law to capture the electronic thermal conductivity of metals in their molten phase. We further support this conclusion using abinitio molecular dynamics simulations with a machine-learned potential. Our results show that at these high temperatures, the vibrational contribution to thermal conductivity is negligible compared to the electronic component.

Improving the thermal conductivity of an epoxy composite with chemically boron nitride-grafted carbon fiber

The rapid progress of electronic devices like electric vehicles, smartphones, and IoT systems has fueled the demand for compact, high-performance batteries. However, a critical challenge arises from heat accumulation within these devices, leading to malfunctions and reduced efficiency. To address this, efficient heat dissipation is crucial, with thermal interface materials (TIMs) widely used for heat transfer. While polymers are favored for TIMs due to their ease of processing and electrical insulation, their low thermal conductivity poses limitations. In this study, a solution is proposed by chemically grafting boron nitride (BN), a ceramic-based filler, onto carbon fiber (CF) surfaces. This BN-g-CF hybrid filler, formed through a reaction between acyl chlorides and amine groups, exhibits superior compatibility with polymer matrix. Characterization confirms successful treatment, and thermal conductivity measurements show a remarkable enhancement, positioning the BN-g-CF/epoxy resin composite as a promising solution for efficient thermal management in various electronic industries.

An improved laser flash method for thermal conductivity measurement of molten salts

Thermal conductivity measurement of high-temperature heat transfer fluids provides a crucial basis for designing utility-scale thermal systems. Molten salts are promising heat transfer and thermal storage fluids in high-temperature thermal energy storage systems, while the molten salt thermal conductivity obtained in existing studies exhibits large deviations due to the high experimental complexity and unstandardized test procedures. In this work, we improve the conventional laser flash analysis method by proposing a theoretical heat transfer model for multi-layer heat conduction and providing a near-optimal molten salt container design. With water as a test sample, the relative error of thermal conductivity measurement using the improved method is 6.3%. The thermal conductivity of Solar Salt from 250 to 400 ​°C, and of Hitec Salt from 160 to 250 ​°C are measured and compared with the previous work. Both results show that the thermal conductivity increases with the temperature rising. This work will promote the technology standardization for accurately acquiring the thermal conductivity of molten salts or other similar high-temperature heat transfer fluids.

Preparation, Characterization, and Biological Activity of La(III), Nd(III), Er(III), Gd(III), and Dy(III) Complexes with Schiff Base Resulted from Reaction of 4-Antipyrinecarboxaldehyde and 2-Aminobenzothiazole

The research includes the preparation of several complexes of the internal transition elements lanthanide (Ln = La, Nd, Er, Gd, and Dy) containing the 4f shell, with Schiff bases resulting from condensation reactions between 4-antipyrinecarboxaldehyde and 2-aminobenzothiazoles. Schiff's base was identified using FTIR spectra, UV-vis spectroscopy, elemental microanalysis CHNSO, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and TGA thermal analysis. The complexes were studied and identified with elemental microanalysis CHNSO, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, TGA thermal analysis, conductivity measurement, and magnetic sensitivity. The result showed that these complexes were classified as homogeneous bidentate complexes with the general formula of [Ln2(L)2(NO3)6]·6H2O. The physical measurements indicated that the prepared complexes are non-electrolyte and paramagnetic. Some compounds prepared in vitro were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against four types of pathogenic strains Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonia, and using the agar disc spreading method for the evaluation. The results showed that some of these complexes have good antibacterial activity compared to the biological activity of the ligand. Also, the biological activity of Schiff's base and the prepared complexes were evaluated against three types of fungi (Candida albicans, Tropical fungi, and Scandal fungi), and they showed great activity against the prepared complexes.

Analyzing recycled waste-infused mortars: Preparation and Examination of thermal, mechanical, and chemical characteristics

In response to the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions in the construction industry, this study provides an in-depth investigation and experimental evaluation of the thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties associated with the incorporation of three different categories of waste into mortar. These categories include expanded polystyrene waste (EPSW), expanded perlite waste (EPW), human hair waste (HHW), textile fiber (TFW), and paraffin waste (PW). Various samples were prepared by adding different proportions of these waste materials as sand substitutes in cement mortar. To enable a thorough assessment of the material properties, a comprehensive series of tests were carried out, including measurements of thermal conductivity, flexural strength, compressive strength, chemical composition and crystalline structures. The results revealed that, for a replacement level of 50%, there was a decrease in thermal conductivity by 28%, 55%, 44% and 67% for EPSW, EPW, TFW, HHW and PW mortars, respectively, which resulted in a decrease in compressive strength by 75%, 71%, 50%, 79% and 81%, respectively. Furthermore, the chemical characterization showed that the chemical composition of the mortar remained consistent, even when a substantial proportion of waste materials was introduced. The study emphases the sustainable construction key role in reducing building life cycle emissions.

Highly porous carbon-SiC composites with continuous carbon fibers for the production of radioisotopes in ISOL facilities

New C/SiC composites with continuous fibers were produced through impregnation of carbon fiber preforms and consolidation by hot pressing. The resulting sintered material was investigated as a potential target for nuclear applications, such as radioisotope production. Desired properties include high porosity and high thermal conductivity to allow isotope release from the targets while working at high temperature. To this end, porosimetry and thermal and mechanical characterizations were conducted up to 1250°C. It was shown that the addition of fibers resulted in high porosity, about 40%, while maintaining a very high thermal conductivity, 40 W/m∙K at 1250°C, a value particularly attractive for the intended application. Emissivity at 1250°C was 0.76, compressive strength at room temperature was 134 MPa, and flexural strength passed from about 90 MPa before thermal conductivity measurements to 50 MPa after the tests.

Measurement and Empirical Models of Thermal Conductivity of Trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I)

Measurement and Empirical Models of Thermal Conductivity of Trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I)

Research of foam concrete quality by two-stage foam injection method in comparison with classical foam concrete

The article presents a method of production of foam concrete, which involves two-stage injection of foam. The proposed method involves improving the pore structure of foam concrete, due to a more uniform distribution of pores throughout the volume of the material. Laboratory tests were carried out for two types of samples, represented by the proposed method of foam concrete production by two-stage foam injection with the use of modified additive in comparison with the classical foam concrete. The density of Type 1 samples varies from 410 to 793 kg/m3 (coefficient of variation from 5.12 to 7.31%), while the density of fiberboard samples lies within the range from 539 to 655 kg/m3 (coefficient of variation from 2.66 to 3.14%). The results of greater variation of densities by height in the Type 1 sample relative to the Type 2 sample indicate the influence of the technological process of foam concrete production on the quality of the pore structure of the material. The results of strength evaluation showed a large scatter of Type 1 samples in relation to Type 2 samples. The highest values of CM strengths are logically observed in the lower part of the sample and the lowest in the upper location: 44.04 and 32.33 kg/cm2 (coefficient of variation from 5.15 to 9.54%). For Type 2 samples, the same values are 55.18 and 44.44 kg/cm2, for the lower and upper locations, respectively (coefficient of variation from 2.79 to 5.35%). The results of thermal conductivity measurements of Type 1 samples range from 0.098 to 0.203 W/m0C (coefficient of variation from 4.59 to 11.88%), while the densities of Type 2 samples lie between 128 and 162 W/m0C (coefficient of variation from 3.38 to 3.55%).