Maximum Thermal Insulation by Nanoporous, Particulate Materials

ORAL

Abstract

Efficient thermal insulation is of high importance to decrease the overall power consumption for heating and cooling applications. Good thermal insulation materials possess a high degree of porosity typically, like foams or aerogels. The low density of such materials mainly drives this.
In this contribution, we use structurally well-defined hollow silica nanoparticles to elaborate the minimum thermal conductivity achievable with this sort of particulate material. The use of monodisperse hollow silica nanoparticles offers several benefits: precise adjustment of open and closed pore volume, the independent variation of the density, and control over particle contact points.
By adjusting the structural properties, we find a minimum thermal conductivity to be reached at ~ 35 mWm-1K-1 in air, whereas 7 mWm-1K-1 can be achieved in vacuum. Thus, tailor-made particle ensembles based on hollow silica nanoparticles represent a dispersion processable, breathable, and non-flammable alternative to common polymer foams.

*This project was funded by a Lichtenberg Professorship provided by the Volkswagen Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Bavarian Polymer Institute, BPI, the SFB840, and DFG project RE3550/2-1

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Presenters

  • Markus Retsch

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
    • Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95444 Bayreuth, Germany

Authors

  • Pia Ruckdeschel

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95444 Bayreuth, Germany

  • Alexandra Philipp

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95444 Bayreuth, Germany

  • Markus Retsch

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
    • Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95444 Bayreuth, Germany