SPEAKER: CRISTINA SAIZ-ARROYO

One of the main applications of low-density polymeric foams is thermal insulation. The inclusion of a gaseous phase is accompanied by a strong reduction of thermal conductivity that makes these materials ideal candidates to be employed as thermal insulating materials in many different applications.

Several facts are boosting the development of thermal insulating materials with lower thermal conductivities and consequently, with improved insulating efficiencies. Thus, it is becoming more and more important reaching quantifiable reductions in the thermal conductivity values to obtain insulating materials with advanced characteristics. 

Facing the challenge of reducing the thermal conductivity of polymeric foams can be done by following a well-established methodology that we have developed in the last years. Such methodology includes a detailed characterization of the material in terms of thermal performance and microstructural characteristics, the modelization of the mechanisms involved in the heat transfer of the material and, finally, the definition and implementation of different strategies, based either on the modification of the processing parameters or on the modification of the chemical composition that allow reducing the thermal conductivity.