On the prediction of the radiation term in the thermal conductivity of plastic foams

Abstract

The radiative contribution to thermal conductivity in plastic foams is studied through two different approaches. Both consist in close forms derived from the heat transfer equation governing the intensity of radiation in foams, where scattering can be treated as isotropic. While one approach is based on the solution of the equation for a continu-ous medium, the other one is based in the solution for a discrete medium. Predictions are contrasted for typical values of thermal properties of foams, and a possible explanation for the found differences is proposed.