Evaluation of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Insulation Material Using Inorganic Filler and Polyurethane

Abstract

Recently, inorganic-organic hybrid materials have attracted much attention not only for their excellent thermal conductivity but also for their flame retardant properties. In this study, the properties of organic-inorganic hybrid insulating materials using inorganic fillers and polyurethane foam with different foaming conditions have been investigated. The addition of 1.5 wt% water to polyurethane as foaming agent shows the best foaming properties. The pore size was decreased in the foaming body with increasing of the $CaCO_3$ addition. The apparent density and thermal conductivity were increased by increasing the $CaCO_3$ addition. With an increasing amount of $CaCO_3$ powder, the flame retardant property is improved, but the properties of thermal conductivity and apparent density tend to decrease. When the addition of fine particles of $CaCO_3$, the apparent density and thermal conductivity were increased and, also, with the addition of coarse particles over $45{\mu}m$ in size, the apparent density and thermal conductivity were increased as well. In this study, the adding of $CaCO_3$ with average particle size of $27{\mu}m$ led to the lowest thermal conductivity and apparent density. After evaluation with different inorganic fillers, $Mg(OH)_2$ showed the highest thermal conductivity; on the other hand, $CaCO_3$ showed the lowest thermal conductivity.