Thermal properties predictive model for insulating foams

Heat transfer through foam insulations occurs by conduction through solid matrix and gas as well as by radiation through the whole medium. Starting from the analysis of different foam insulation morphological structures, a geometrical cell model has been developed to be applied to the prediction of radiative and conductive foam insulation properties, based on the electromagnetic theory and conduction model through porous material. The developed model has been validated comparing simulation results of different foams with experimental data and can be used for purposes of foam insulating performance optimisation. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.