Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
652936 International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2016 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

We report here thermal conductivity measurements of packed beds of nanoparticles both under vacuum and at ambient pressure and compare those measurements to theoretical predictions. The thermal conductivity measurements of the nanoparticle beds under vacuum were found to be as low as 0.018 W/m °C, among the lowest thermal conductivities of solid materials ever measured. Theoretical predictions agreed with the conductivity measurements under vacuum within experimental uncertainty. In contrast, thermal conductivities measured for nanoparticle beds at ambient pressure were an order of magnitude higher than the measurements under vacuum, and significantly higher than the theory predicted. These results indicate a serious limitation that could impact the use of nanoparticle beds as very low conductivity insulating materials.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
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