Dynamic Measurements of the Thermal Conductivity of Insulators

Abstract

Measurements of the thermal conductivity of insulators that are commonly used in civil engineering are as a rule performed using Pönsgen’s guarded hot-plate method under steady-state conditions. Achieving these steady-state conditions is a time consuming and relatively expensive procedure. Therefore, the application of a method that is less time consuming and less costly to common building insulating materials is of interest. The method should also have the accuracy and repeatability comparable to that of presently used methods. One such method is the transient hot-wire method (predominantly used for liquids, non-Newtonian fluids, plastics, semi-plastics, and similar materials), a dynamic method that uses a very thin pure platinum wire that functions as a thermal source in combination with a temperature sensor that detects temperature transients. This article describes the application of the transient hot-wire method to most commonly used building thermal insulating materials. The transient hot-wire measurements of the thermal conductivity were performed on many building material samples. For the sake of comparison, the thermal conductivity of samples made from the same materials was also tested using the stationary Pönsgen’s guarded hot-plate method. This article describes the comparison and evaluation of the measurement results obtained from both methods as well as the estimation of pertinent measurement uncertainties. The results are presented in graphical and numerical form in tables and diagrams for each type of thermal insulator.