Thermal Characterisation of Thermoset Polyester Resin Filled Recycle Expanded Polystyrene Composite with Aerogel and Alumina Additives

Abstract:

The preparation and characterization of Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) filled recycled Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) composite systems were systematically investigated. Additives such as Alumina and silica aerogel powder were added to the composite for Infrared reflection and insulation enhancement. The effect of differing alumina weight percentage on the thermal properties, i.e. thermal conductivity and glass transition temperature, T_g were determined. The fabricated composite undergoes thermal analysis by using a DSC and a hand-held thermal probe, and characterized by a FTIR. There is little variation of the T_g across the samples tested. Specific heat capacity, c_p from the DSC thermogram was significantly affected by incorporation of silica aerogel; 565 J/kgK compared to the unfilled sample result of 1706 kJ/kg. The thermal conductivity showed a minimum at 0.147 W m^-1 K^-1 from integrated silica aerogel only sample, and alumina addition increases the thermal conductivity above the minimum k value in the ranges 0.227-0.313 W m^-1 K^-1. Alternative C_p values from the thermal probe followed similar trend as the DSC C_p. Thermal diffusivity from the probe also showed an increase upon silica aerogel and alumina incorporation.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 664)
• Pages: 600-604
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.664.600
• Online since: February 2013
• Authors: Syed Anas Bin Syed Mustafa, Rahmah Mohamed, Nor Zaini Ikrom Zakaria, Husni Bin Rustam
• Keywords: Aerogel, Alumina, EPS, Green Composite, Thermal Characteristic, UPR

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