Optimization of solid and radiation thermal conductivity of polymeric foams using response surface method based on a novel theoretical model

Polymeric foams are one of the best candidates for thermal insulation. Accordingly, to investigate the thermal insulation properties of polymeric foams has attracted the attention of scientific communities in recent years. In this study, optimization of thermal insulation properties of polymeric foams is performed from solid and radiation thermal conductivities points of view. In this regard, a theoretical model based on cell size and foam density is developed. The results of the developed theoretical model are verified in comparison to various experimental results. Based on the results, the error of the theoretical model is lesser than 5%. Decreasing the foam density increases and decreases the solid and radiation thermal conductivity, respectively. Also, the radiation thermal conductivity is decreased by reducing the cell size. Response surface method (RSM) is applied in order to optimize the solid and radiation thermal conductivities. The results illuminate that the foam density of 23.5 kg.m-3 and cell size of 53 μm are the optimum conditions. At the optimum conditions, both of the solid and radiation thermal conductivities are lesser than 3 mW/mK. According to the results, the data obtained from developed theoretical model and RSM are in a good agreement. The total thermal conductivity is 30 mW/mK at optimum conditions which is a desirable value at aforementioned cell size range.