Thermal conductivity and tensile properties of tin oxide filled UPR/EPS composites with and without organic nanocrystal

摘要

Panel composite for building application made from waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) and unsaturated polyester (UPR) were fabricated and tested in this research for their tensile and thermal characteristics in determining its insulation properties. Research had been carried out to incorporate EPS into UPR with addition of two additives types which are tin oxide (SnO) stand alone, and tin oxide in combination with organic nanocrystals. The weight percentage of SnO had been varied from 0.1 to 2%, and the nanocrystals between 0.1 to 0.5%; both fabricated via casting and compression of the UPR/EPS composite. The testing performed are tensile properties by an Instron Universal Tensile Machine; and thermal conductivity test by using KD2 Pro hand-held thermal probe. It was found that, by using UPE/EPS, the additives affected the composites' thermal conductivity and tensile capabilities. For tensile strength, the control sample showed the highest tensile strength at 22.2 MPa. For thermal conductivity (k value), the lowest value was recorded by the 1% SnO stand alone at an approximate ~ 0.172 W/m.K. Via organic nanocrystal use fixed at 0.1%, the k value increases up to a certain point with increasing SnO. Addition of more SnO and nanocrystal incorporation had mostly increases its thermal conductivity and heat capacity. Heat capacity was also found to be at the lowest in the 1% SnO stand alone sample at 2.008 MJ/m~3.K.