Effect of nanoparticle coating on the thermal conductivity of microporous thermal insulations

Microporous thermal insulations were prepared from mixtures of nano-sized fumed silica, micron-sized fibers and opacifier particles. Those micron-sized particles were dry coated with nano-sized fumed silica particles by mechanical process using a compressive-shear type mill. The effect of nanoparticle coating on the thermal conductivity of the insulation media was investigated using a hot-wire method. Effect of nanoparticle coating was found to be more pronounced for the insulation composed of fumed silica and fiber than for the one composed of fumed silica, fiber and an opacifier. By adding 15% SiC or TiO2 opacifier, the thermal conductivity of the insulation samples could be lowered to 0.08 Wm(-1) K(-1) at temperature range of 805 approximately 817 degrees C. The temperature dependent thermal conductivity of the sample containing glass fiber did not exhibit any remarkable changes compared to the one containing ceramic fiber.