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LEGO® Block Structures as a Sub-Kelvin Thermal Insulator.

J M A Chawner1, A T Jones1, M T Noble1

  • 1Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, United Kingdom.

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|December 25, 2019
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Commercial LEGO® blocks, made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), offer excellent thermal insulation at low temperatures. This modular material is a cost-effective alternative to traditional insulators for scientific applications.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Low-Temperature Physics
  • Thermal Engineering

Background:

  • Traditional insulating materials often face limitations in performance or cost for specific low-temperature applications.
  • The need for effective thermal isolation is critical in sensitive scientific experiments, particularly those conducted in dilution refrigerators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure and characterize the thermal conductance of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) structures, commonly known as LEGO® blocks.
  • To evaluate the potential of LEGO® blocks as a cost-effective and high-performance thermal insulator in the millikelvin to Kelvin temperature range.
  • To compare the thermal performance of ABS/void composite materials with established bulk insulator materials.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental measurement of thermal conductance using a custom setup within a dilution refrigerator.
  • Characterization of the material's thermal conductivity (κ) as a function of temperature (T) in the range of 70 mK to 1.8 K.
  • Analysis of the power law governing thermal conductivity: κ = (8.7 ± 0.3) × 10-5 T1.75±0.02 WK-1 m-1.

Main Results:

  • The thermal conductivity of the ABS/void structure follows a power law κ ∝ T1.75±0.02.
  • The material demonstrates superior thermal isolation compared to conventional bulk insulators within the tested temperature range.
  • A low power input (<400 nW) was sufficient to induce a significant temperature rise (>1 K) over a 5 cm2 area without disturbing the base refrigerator temperature.

Conclusions:

  • Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) LEGO® blocks provide excellent thermal isolation and mechanical support at low temperatures.
  • LEGO® blocks present a cost-effective and high-performance alternative to materials like Macor and Vespel for thermal management in scientific apparatus.
  • The study suggests that 3D printing modular materials could enable the development of even more efficient and affordable thermal insulation solutions.