Measurement of thermophysical properties of polyurethane foam insulation during transient heating

Thermal conductivity and heat capacity of polyurethane foam insulation of 374 kg·m^-3 density were measured up to 200°C. Thermal conductivity and heat capacity were determined by transient temperature data taken across the foam specimen when one surface was subjected to a uniform heat flux input. The transient temperature data were then processed by a parameter estimation computer code to determine the effective thermal conductivity and heat capacity. Linear thermal conductivity and heat capacity variations with temperature were determined by providing the property values at two different temperatures. Analyses for sequential estimates, residuals, sensitivity coefficients were conducted for all property data obtained to assure accuracy. The results were compared with published data as well as an existing model. It was found that the existing model for thermal conductivity of foam materials tends to underpredict the experimental data.